The countdown to the 2026 Milan Cortina Paralympic Video games is sort of over. The opening ceremony is March 6, leaving lower than two weeks for Italian organizers to scrub up after the Olympics and get all of the occasion websites prepared for an additional onslaught of athletes and guests from all over the world.
From March 6-15, 665 athletes from all over the world – together with 70 Individuals – will compete in 79 medal occasions throughout six sports activities: Para Alpine Snowboarding, Para Biathlon, Para Cross-Nation Snowboarding, Para Ice Hockey, Para Snowboard and Wheelchair Curling. Similar to with the Olympics, all sports activities will probably be dwell streamed and obtainable on demand on Peacock, NBC’s streaming platform.
Listed here are 5 storylines to observe:
1. United States sled hockey goes for a fifth consecutive gold
The United States sled hockey group is the top-ranked group on this planet. It’s also the four-time defending Paralympic gold medalist going again to the 2010 Vancouver Video games.
Among the many gamers to observe are ahead Declan Farmer and goalie Jen Lee. Farmer, a three-time gold medalist, was the highest scorer on the 2018 and 2022 Paralympics and is the US all-time chief in profession Paralympic targets, assists and factors. Lee, additionally a three-time gold medalist, noticed some ice time because the backup goalie in 2014 and 2018. Because the beginning goalie in 2022, he stopped all 33 pictures he confronted, together with all 16 pictures he confronted in the US’ 5-0 win over rival Canada within the gold medal recreation.
The US, who’s in Group A, will play the opposite three groups from the group with video games in opposition to Italy on March 7, Germany on March 9 and China on March 11. The 4 groups in Group B (Canada, Czechia, Japan and Slovakia) may also all play one another spherical robin within the group stage with the highest two groups from every group advancing to the semifinals.
The semifinals are March 13, and the gold medal recreation is March 15.
Enjoyable truth: Throughout its present gold medal streak spanning the final 4 Paralympic video games, Workforce USA has a mixed document of 18-2 and has outscored opponents by a mixed margin of 102-6.
2. Will we see extra dominance from Masters?
Oksana Masters, essentially the most embellished United States winter Paralympian in historical past, will look so as to add to her document 14 winter Paralympic medals (5 golds, seven silvers, and two bronzes), along with her 5 summer season Paralympic medals (4 golds and a bronze).
Masters, who competes within the sitting division of Para Biathlon and Para Cross-Nation Snowboarding, made historical past on the 2022 Beijing Video games the place she grew to become the primary American to win seven medals at a single Paralympic Video games.
Workforce USA has not but formally introduced what particular occasions Masters, the top-ranked para cross nation skier in her division and second ranked para biathlete in her division on this planet, will compete in. Within the 2022 Beijing video games, Masters competed in seven occasions, three Para Biathlon occasions (6 km, 10 km, 12.5 km) and 4 Para Cross-Nation Snowboarding occasions (1.5 km, 10 km, 15 km, 4 x 2.5 km combined relay), profitable gold within the 10-km and 12.5-km Biathlon occasions in addition to the mixed-relay Para Cross Nation occasion.
The Para Biathlon occasions will happen on March 7, 8 and 13. The Para Cross Nation occasions will happen on March 10, 11, 14 and 15.
Enjoyable truth: Masters is engaged to fellow Workforce USA Paralympian Aaron Pike who can also be competing within the Milan Cortina Video games. The 2 plan on getting married in Milan after the video games are over.
3. Can USA Para Snowboard bounce again?
Workforce USA dominated Para Snowboarding on the 2018 Pyeongchang Video games, combining for 5 gold medals and 13 medals total (The Netherlands, who completed second within the medal desk for the game, had two gold medals and 5 medals total).
However, on the 2022 Beijing Video games, Workforce USA completed third within the Para Snowboard medal desk behind China and France) choosing up just one gold medal and 4 medals total.*
Among the many American athletes who will probably be competing in Para Snowboard are Brenna Huckaby and Noah Elliott. Each are making their third Paralympics look, and each compete in Banked Slalom and Snowboard Cross. Huckaby received two gold medals in 2018 and a gold and a bronze medal in 2022. Elliott received a gold medal and a bronze medal in 2018 however didn’t medal in 2022 whereas coping with an harm.
There are Para Snowboarding seeding occasions on March 7 and medal occasions on March 8 and 14.
Enjoyable truth: Since Para Snowboard made its Paralympic debut on the 2014 Sochi Video games, Workforce USA has received over a 3rd of all the game’s gold medals and total medals.
4. United States seeks first wheelchair curling medal
Wheelchair curling made its Paralympic debut on the 2006 Turin Video games and has returned each Paralympics since, however the US has by no means received a medal of any coloration within the sport. Its greatest end was fourth place on the 2010 Vancouver Video games.
The US does have twice as many alternatives to get that first medal. Along with combined group wheelchair curling (the occasion that has been a part of the Paralympics since 2006), the Milan Cortina Paralympics will characteristic the Paralympics debut of combined doubles wheelchair curling.
The eight international locations which are competing in combined doubles will compete in opposition to one another spherical robin-style from March 4-9. The highest 4 groups will compete within the semifinals on March 10, with the gold medal match on March 11.
The ten international locations which are competing in Combined group will compete in opposition to one another spherical robin model from March 7 by March 12. The highest 4 groups will play within the semifinals on March 13, with the gold medal match on March 14.
Enjoyable info: In distinction to plain curling, there isn’t a sweeping in wheelchair curling. Additionally, in wheelchair curling, athletes use a keep on with push and rotate the stone relatively than sliding it by hand like in customary curling.
5. Can the US return to the highest of the medal desk?
Workforce USA completed atop the medal desk on the 2018 Pyeongchang Video games with essentially the most gold medals (13) and total medals (36). However, on the 2022 Beijing Video games, Workforce USA completed fifth within the medal desk with six gold medals and 20 total medals.
The US has the second most all-time Winter Paralympic gold medals (117) behind Norway (140) and the third most all-time Winter Paralympic medals total (333) behind Austria (345) and Norway (334).
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