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Winter Paralympics 2026: China Secure Top Spot With 44 Medals; USA And Russia Finish 2nd and 3rd - See Best Photos

The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics concluded with a spectacular display of athletic excellence across northern Italy, marking the movement's 50th anniversary. China maintained its international dominance by topping the medal table with 15 gold medals and 44 total podium finishes. The United States secured second place with 13 golds, highlighted by their continued mastery in Para ice hockey. Host nation Italy achieved its best-ever Winter Paralympic performance to finish fourth, while Russia and Austria rounded out the top five. Standout athletes like Veronika Aigner and Oksana Masters each claimed four gold medals, cementing their status as legends of winter parasports. Watch some of the best pictures from the event below.

United States' Brett Bolton, center, challenges for the puck with Canada's Anton Jacobs-Webb during the ice hockey gold medal match between United States and Canada at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Milan, Italy. | Photo: AP/Antonio Calanni
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Players of the United States celebrate on the podium after winning the gold medal at the ice hockey of the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Milan, Italy
Players of the United States celebrate on the podium after winning the gold medal at the ice hockey of the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Milan, Italy | Photo: AP/Luca Bruno
Ebba Aarsjoe, of Sweden, poses for photos with her three alpine skiing gold medals, at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.
Ebba Aarsjoe, of Sweden, poses for photos with her three alpine skiing gold medals, at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. | Photo: AP/Emilio Morenatti
Johannes Aigner, of Austria, waits his turn to start his first run of the alpine skiing men's slalom vision impaired at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.
Johannes Aigner, of Austria, waits his turn to start his first run of the alpine skiing men's slalom vision impaired at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. | Photo: AP/Emilio Morenatti
Maria Martin-Granizo, of Spain, crosses the finish line on her second run of the alpine skiing women's giant slalom standing at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.
Maria Martin-Granizo, of Spain, crosses the finish line on her second run of the alpine skiing women's giant slalom standing at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. | Photo: AP/Evgeniy Maloletka
Davide Bendotti, of Italy, competes in his first run of the alpine skiing men's slalom standing at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.
Davide Bendotti, of Italy, competes in his first run of the alpine skiing men's slalom standing at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. | Photo: AP/Evgeniy Maloletka
United States' Kayden Beasley, left, celebrates with his teammate Malik Jones after scoring during the ice hockey gold medal match between United States and Canada at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Milan, Italy.
United States' Kayden Beasley, left, celebrates with his teammate Malik Jones after scoring during the ice hockey gold medal match between United States and Canada at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Milan, Italy. | Photo: AP/Antonio Calanni
Ebba Aarsjoe, of Sweden, poses for photos with her alpine skiing three gold and one bronze medals, at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.
Ebba Aarsjoe, of Sweden, poses for photos with her alpine skiing three gold and one bronze medals, at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. | Photo: AP/Emilio Morenatti
Brittany Hudak, of Canada, competes in the cross country skiing women's 10Km interval start classic standing final at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Tesero, Italy.
Brittany Hudak, of Canada, competes in the cross country skiing women's 10Km interval start classic standing final at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Tesero, Italy. | Photo: AP/Evgeniy Maloletka
Alejandra Requesens, of Spain, competes in her first run of the alpine skiing women's giant slalom vision impaired at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.
Alejandra Requesens, of Spain, competes in her first run of the alpine skiing women's giant slalom vision impaired at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. | Photo: AP/Evgeniy Maloletka
Anna Soens, of the United States, watches Mata Rodriguez, of Spain, reflected in her goggles, leave the start gate for her second run in the alpine skiing women's giant slalom sitting at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.
Anna Soens, of the United States, watches Mata Rodriguez, of Spain, reflected in her goggles, leave the start gate for her second run in the alpine skiing women's giant slalom sitting at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. | Photo: AP/Emilio Morenatti
Audrey Pascual Seco, of Spain, reacts after crossing the finish line in the to win the bronze medal in the alpine skiing women's giant slalom sitting at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.
Audrey Pascual Seco, of Spain, reacts after crossing the finish line in the to win the bronze medal in the alpine skiing women's giant slalom sitting at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. | Photo: AP/Evgeniy Maloletka
Zach Miller, of the United States, from left, Keith Gabel, of the United States, and Alex Massie, of Canada, compete in a men's snowboard cross SB-LL2 semifinal at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.
Zach Miller, of the United States, from left, Keith Gabel, of the United States, and Alex Massie, of Canada, compete in a men's snowboard cross SB-LL2 semifinal at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. | Photo: AP/Evgeniy Maloletka
Dave Miln, of Australia, ie welcomed back by his dog Suki after competing in the cross country skiing men's 10Km interval start sitting final at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Tesero, Italy.
Dave Miln, of Australia, ie welcomed back by his dog Suki after competing in the cross country skiing men's 10Km interval start sitting final at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Tesero, Italy. | Photo: AP/Emilio Morenatti
United States' Mikaela Shiffrin speeds down the course during a women's World Cup giant slalom, in Are, Sweden.
United States' Mikaela Shiffrin speeds down the course during a women's World Cup giant slalom, in Are, Sweden. | Photo: AP/Marco Trovati
Wang Chenyang, of China, crosses the finish line in the cross country skiing men's 10Km interval start classic standing final at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Tesero, Italy.
Wang Chenyang, of China, crosses the finish line in the cross country skiing men's 10Km interval start classic standing final at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Tesero, Italy. | Photo: AP/Evgeniy Maloletka
Italian players get ready prior to the Group A hockey match between Italy and China at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Milan, Italy.
Italian players get ready prior to the Group A hockey match between Italy and China at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Milan, Italy. | Photo: AP/Luca Bruno
Robelson Lula, of Brazil, stands after competing in the cross country skiing men's 10Km interval start sitting final at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Tesero, Italy.
Robelson Lula, of Brazil, stands after competing in the cross country skiing men's 10Km interval start sitting final at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Tesero, Italy. | Photo: AP/Emilio Morenatti
Maria Martin-Granizo, of Spain, competes in her first run of the alpine skiing women's giant slalom standing at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.
Maria Martin-Granizo, of Spain, competes in her first run of the alpine skiing women's giant slalom standing at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. | Photo: AP/Emilio Morenatti
Mike Schultz, of the United States, stretches during warmup before the start of the snowboard cross competitions at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.
Mike Schultz, of the United States, stretches during warmup before the start of the snowboard cross competitions at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. | Photo: AP/Evgeniy Maloletka
Claire Petit, of the Netherlands, competes in the alpine skiing women's super-G standing final at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.
Claire Petit, of the Netherlands, competes in the alpine skiing women's super-G standing final at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. | Photo: AP/Evgeniy Maloletka
Jinqiao Yang, of China, competes during wheelchair curling mixed doubles round robin session against Italy at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.
Jinqiao Yang, of China, competes during wheelchair curling mixed doubles round robin session against Italy at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. | Photo: AP/Evgeniy Maloletka
Chine's Li Hongguan challenges for the puck with Italy's Gianluigi Rosa during the Group A hockey match between Italy and China at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Milan, Italy.
Chine's Li Hongguan challenges for the puck with Italy's Gianluigi Rosa during the Group A hockey match between Italy and China at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Milan, Italy. | Photo: AP/Luca Bruno
Bernt Marius Roerstad, of Norway, competes in the alpine skiing men's super-G standing final at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.
Bernt Marius Roerstad, of Norway, competes in the alpine skiing men's super-G standing final at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. | Photo: AP/Evgeniy Maloletka
Zhang Wenjing, of China, competes in her first run of the alpine skiing women's giant slalom sitting at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.
Zhang Wenjing, of China, competes in her first run of the alpine skiing women's giant slalom sitting at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. | Photo: AP/Evgeniy Maloletka
United States' Declan Farmer runs to the puck during a semifinal hockey match between United States and Czech Republic at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Milan, Italy.
United States' Declan Farmer runs to the puck during a semifinal hockey match between United States and Czech Republic at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Milan, Italy. | Photo: AP/Luca Bruno
Kate Delson, of the United States, competes in her second run of the snowboard women's banked slalom sb-ll2 at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.
Kate Delson, of the United States, competes in her second run of the snowboard women's banked slalom sb-ll2 at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. | Photo: AP/Emilio Morenatti
China's Shiyu Wang competes in the Para Biathlon Women's sprint sitting at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Tesero, Italy.
China's Shiyu Wang competes in the Para Biathlon Women's sprint sitting at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Tesero, Italy. | Photo: AP/Kirsty Wigglesworth
Gakuta Koike, of Japan, reacts after competing in the alpine skiing men's downhill standing competition at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.
Gakuta Koike, of Japan, reacts after competing in the alpine skiing men's downhill standing competition at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. | Photo: AP/Emilio Morenatti
Gold medalists Veronika Aigner, of Austria, left, and her guide Eric Digruber celebrate on the podium of the alpine skiing women's giant slalom vision impaired, watched by bronze medalists Elina Stary, of Austria, and her guide Stefan Winter, right, at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.
Gold medalists Veronika Aigner, of Austria, left, and her guide Eric Digruber celebrate on the podium of the alpine skiing women's giant slalom vision impaired, watched by bronze medalists Elina Stary, of Austria, and her guide Stefan Winter, right, at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. | Photo: AP/Emilio Morenatti
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Paralympics Italy Winter Games Winter Paralympics Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics games