Keeping up with the Paralympians at the Para Cross-Country World Championships

Can you believe it has been three years since Beijing 2022? At the FIS Para Cross-Country World Championships, we spoke with four Paralympic medallists to learn what they have been up to since the last Winter Games and how they are preparing for Milano Cortina 2026. 

The Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games will take place from 6-15 March, featuring six sports – Para alpine skiing, Para biathlon, Para cross-country skiing, Para ice hockey, Para snowboard, and wheelchair curling. There will be 20 medal events in Para cross-country skiing, which will take place in Tesero, Val di Fiemme. 

Kendall Gretsch: Competing in Para triathlon at Paris 2024

After winning three medals at Beijing 2022, Kendall Gretsch shifted her focus to the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Gretsch, who competes in Para biathlon and Para cross-country skiing in the winter and Para triathlon in the summer, added a silver medal to her collection at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.

Para triathletes started and finished on the Pont Alexandre III, a bridge between the Seine’s two banks in central Paris. Athletes biked and ran near iconic landmarks such as the Grand Palais.

In the women’s individual PTWC event, Gretsch shared the podium with Australia’s Lauren Parker, who won her first gold medal, and Canada’s Leanne Taylor, who took bronze.

“Since Beijing, it’s been busy. I also compete in the summer, so this was really getting ready for the Paris Games after Beijing, and it’s not that much longer until Milan, so it’s been busy,” said Gretsch, adding that being a dual athlete has helped in both winter and summer sports.

“I don’t know if I’d say it’s an advantage or a disadvantage. It’s just what works for me, and I’ve been doing it for a while now, and I know what kind of shape I come in into the ski season after triathlon, and it’s something that works for me.” 

With just over one year to go until Milano Cortina 2026, Gretsch said she has been trying to compete on snow as much as possible to prepare to compete at her third Paralympic Winter Games.

“The food in Italy is amazing, so I’m looking forward to that,” Gretsch said when asked about her expectations for Milano Cortina 2026. “I’m looking forward to having my family there (at Milano Cortina 2026) and hopefully having a great Games for Team USA.”

Carina Edlinger: Focusing on health and learning Italian 

Carina Edlinger claimed two medals at Beijing 2022, her second Paralympic Games. With guide skier Lorenz Josef Lampl, the Austrian athlete topped the podium in the women’s sprint free technique vision impaired event before taking bronze in the middle distance free technique race. She celebrated on the podium with her guide dog, Riley. 

What has Edlinger been up to since winning her maiden gold medal at Beijing 2022?  

“Since Beijing, I put a lot of effort into my health and also my mental health because your body is the biggest quality you have. You have to be strong and be able to compete and also to win,” she said. “So that was one of my biggest focuses, and it definitely paid off. 

“I’ll continue with this road because I know what impact it made on me and how far I came.” 

With the Milano Cortina 2026 approaching, Edlinger is prepared to make the most of the Games in Italy.  

“I actually learned Italian for six years in school. I barely speak Italian anymore, but my biggest goal is to speak more fluently again and show my language skills,” she said. “I would, of course, love to win a biathlon medal.” 

Mark Arendz: Improving consistency 

When Mark Arendz looks back at the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games, he says it felt like competing at the Games was a “reward” in itself. But Arendz claimed four medals in the Chinese capital, including a gold medal in Para biathlon.

Three years since Beijing 2022, Arendz says he has grown a lot as an athlete. His younger brother Menno also took on the role of shooting coach a few months after the Games, and now they travel to competitions together.

“To me, over the last three years, it’s just been a lot of consistency,” Arendz said. “A lot of things have come together – maturity as an athlete and years of hard work have converged into really consistent and successful campaigns over the few years, especially in biathlon and then the occasional classic race when I decide to do them.” 

At the IBU Para Biathlon World Championships, he collected two golds and a bronze in the standing category before competing at the Para Cross-Country World Championships.

Oksana Shyshkova: Gearing up for Milano Cortina 2026 

Oksana Shyshkova, who claimed three gold and silver medals at Beijing 2022, says competing at the official Milano Cortina 2026 test event in Val di Fiemme earlier this year has given her a better idea of what the competition will be like next year.

“I saw the course in Val de Fiemme, and now I understand that I have to do even more and work even harder,” the five-time Paralympic champion said via a translator. “After the World Cup in Val di Fiemme, I saw that (the Games) would be a great event and a tough competition.”

“It might even be the hardest one in my life. (The course) is at high altitude with uphills and downhills.”  

She will focus on getting used to the high altitude as she trains for her fifth Paralympic Games. When asked for expectations for Milano Cortina 2026, Shyshkova said with a smile: “We will see, the Games will show.”