The 2026 Winter Paralympic Games in Milano and Cortina, Italy, concluded on Sunday with China securing a dominant performance, topping the medal table with 44 medals across 79 events.
Marking the 59th edition of the Winter Paralympics, the Games ran from March 6 to 15 and featured a record 611 athletes from 55 nations competing in six sports: para alpine skiing, para biathlon, para cross-country skiing, para ice hockey, para snowboard, and wheelchair curling.
Several nations made their Winter Paralympic debuts this year, including El Salvador, Haiti, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Portugal.
China led convincingly with 15 gold, 13 silver, and 16 bronze (44 medals in total), continuing its supremacy on ice and snow.
The United States finished second, highlighted by a historic fifth consecutive gold medal in para ice hockey after defeating Canada 6-2 in the final.
Russia returned to competition for the first time since 2014 under its national flag and secured third place with 8 gold medals.
Host nation Italy delivered its best-ever Paralympic performance, claiming fourth place overall with 16 medals.
The closing ceremony took place at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium — a venue that also hosted events during the 1956 Winter Olympics — under the theme “Italian Souvenir".
The event featured music, dance, and tributes to the athletes and the legacy of the Games.
IPC President Andrew Parsons officially declared the Games closed, with the next Winter Paralympics scheduled for the French Alps in 2030.
Also read: China leads at Winter Paralympics with 27 medals
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