2026 Winter Paralympics Medals: Italian Triumphs and Legends in Action on March 13

Folks, what a spectacle! We are right in the thick of the VIII Paralympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina 2026, and today, March 13, has given us emotions that will be hard to forget. The icy wind sweeping across the slopes does nothing to cool the crowd's enthusiasm; whether in the stands or glued to the TV, they cheer and hold their breath for every hundredth of a second. So much is at stake today, and Italy is right there, fighting tooth and nail to climb as high as possible in the medal standings.

A Memorable Day for the Azzurri

Wow, what a performance! Fantastic news is coming in from the snows of Cortina. In the men's parallel giant slalom, one of the most spectacular events on the program, our Italian athletes delivered a mind-blowing performance. The course was tricky, with that icy surface that sends chills down your spine, but our guys attacked from the very first gate to the last. A silver medal that feels like gold, given how it was won: an incredible comeback in the second run that made the crowd erupt. And that's not all – in today's biathlon events, we missed the podium by a whisker, finishing just outside the top three twice. The final count for the day? Two incredibly valuable medals that keep us firmly in the mix at the top of the rankings. Go Italy, the wind is in our sails!

Legends and Icons: Verena Bentele and Oksana Masters

But the Paralympic Winter Games aren't just about the medal rush; they are also the stage for the greatest exponents of Paralympic sports to shine. Today was proof of that, with two true icons taking center stage.

The first is her, Germany's Verena Bentele. She no longer competes, but her spirit hovers over every biathlon and cross-country race. She was in the stands today cheering on the women, and you can be sure her presence is an incredibly powerful emotion for all of them. Just looking at her reminds you of her 12 Paralympic gold medals and her incredible story. A living legend who still passes on that amazing fighting spirit to the new generations.

And then there's the American, Oksana Masters. If you look up the word "fighter" in the dictionary, her picture should be right there. Born in Ukraine with birth defects caused by the Chernobyl disaster, she has overcome every barrier to become a powerhouse in multiple sports. Today, in the biathlon, she delivered yet another masterclass: a lightning-fast start, textbook precision at the shooting range, and a solo finish that earned her yet another medal for her collection. Oksana doesn't just win; Oksana conquers, inspires, and sweeps you away. She is the purest face of these Games.

The Medal Tally and Top Results from March 13

If you're a stats and rankings buff like me, here's a snapshot of what went down today on the snow in Lombardy and Veneto. An incredibly intense day that has reshaped the overall leaderboard.

• Men's Parallel Giant Slalom: Gold for France's Maxime Montaggioni, Silver for Italy's Manuel Pozzerle, Bronze for Austria's Simon Wallner. Our Manuel was on fire!
• Women's 7.5km Biathlon (Standing): Gold for USA's Oksana Masters, Silver for Canada's Brittany Hudak, Bronze for Germany's Anja Wicker. Masters is simply phenomenal.
• Men's 10km Biathlon (Sitting): Gold for China's Liu Mengtao, Silver for Ukraine's Taras Rad, Bronze for Norway's Trygve Steinar Toskedal. China continues to churn out strong results.
• Women's Giant Slalom (Visually Impaired): Gold for Great Britain's Menna Fitzpatrick, Silver for Slovakia's Henrieta Farkasova, Bronze for Austria's Barbara Aigner. A competition of the highest technical level.

Looking at this picture, one thing is clear: beyond the colour of the medals, what truly matters is the spectacle and the ability of these athletes to turn adversity into beauty. We are only halfway through these marvellous VIII Paralympic Winter Games, and the standard is already sky-high. Forza Italia, let's keep dreaming!