Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics - Para Cross-country Skiing

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The Winter Paralympics are here, and that means Para Cross-country skiing is back on our screens!

You can view the schedule here. Para Cross-country skiing is on from 10-15 March 2026.

What is Cross-country Skiing?
Cross-country skiing is divided by technique: classic and free. In the classic technique, the skier glides along tracks etched in the snow, while in the free technique (also called "skate"), the skier makes lateral movements relative to the direction of travel. Each race at the Olympics takes place in the classic or free technique.
Read more here.

What is Para Cross-country Skiing?
Skiers in the sitting category use a sit-ski, a seat equipped with a pair of skis. Athletes with a vision impairment compete in the event with a sighted guide. Standing skiers use conventional cross-country skis, made of fibreglass composite materials. In all categories skiers can use poles to propel themselves.

Athletes compete in 5, 10 and 20km sprints, or participate in a team relay using classic or free techniques. At Milano Cortina 2026 there will be five events: sprint, 10km interval start classic, 20km interval start free, mixed 4x2.5km relay, and open 4x2.5km relay. Each event will be divided into three categories.

The "standing" category includes skiers with physical disabilities who ski standing.

The "sitting" category includes skiers who ski on a sit-ski, consisting of a seat mounted on two cross-country skis.

The "vision impaired" category includes skiers with a visual impairment, who compete with a guide who skis in front of them, giving indications on the route.

At Milano Cortina 2026, Para cross-country skiing events will take place in Tesero, Val di Fiemme region.

Very brief history of Para Cross-country Skiing
Para cross-country skiing first appeared at the Örnsköldsvik 1976 Paralympic Winter Games. Athletes used the classic technique in all long-distance races until the introduction of the skate skiing technique in Innsbruck in 1984. Since then, the events have been divided into two separate specialties: classic technique and freestyle. It was only at the Albertville Paralympics in 1992 that the freestyle technique was officially used in a medal race.

Visit the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympics and Paralympics Hub Thread for more!

(edited 1 month ago)

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