Top Paralympic Winter Games moments: Italy

The Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games promise to deliver unforgettable moments. Up to 665 athletes from around 50 National Paralympic Committees are set to compete in six sports – Para alpine skiing, Para biathlon, Para cross-country, Para ice hockey, Para snowboard, and wheelchair curling. 

Italian athletes have taken the spotlight since making their Paralympic Winter Games debut at Geilo 1980, winning 73 medals - 16 gold, 25 silver, and 32 bronze. And they are preparing to excite the home crowd at Milano Cortina 2026.

With less than one year to go until the 10-day spectacle, let's take a look at some of Italy's top moments from the Paralympic Winter Games.

Innsbruck 1988: Bruno Oberhammer and Paolo Lorenzini win Italy’s first golds

Maurizio Cagol was the only athlete to represent Italy at Geilo 1980. Twenty-four athletes competed at Innsbruck 1988, with Para alpine skier Bruno Oberhammer and Para cross-country skier Paolo Lorenzini winning the country's first gold medals.

Oberhammer, who won bronze on his Paralympic debut at Innsbruck 1984, topped the podium twice in the men's B3 category. He won the giant slalom and downhill events, beating Canada's Uli Rompel in both races.

Paolo Lorenzini earned three medals in Innsbruck, including gold in the men's long distance 30km B3 race and two bronze medals. Lorenzini competed at six Paralympic Winter Games from Innsbruck 1984-Salt Lake City 2002.

Oberhammer competed at three more Paralympic Winter Games, winning another gold, five silver, and three bronze medals.

Torino 2006: Silvia Parente becomes first female Paralympic Winter Games champion 

Silvia Parente was the star of the home Games after becoming the first female Paralympic Winter Games champion. Competing at her fourth Games, Parente won the women's giant slalom visually impaired event, beating France's Pascale Casanova by 0.27 seconds.

She also earned three bronze medals on home snow.

Vancouver 2010: Francesca Porcellato tops Para cross-country podium 

Summer-winter dual athlete Francesca Porcellato won Italy's only gold medal on the final day of competition at Vancouver 2010. Twenty-two years after making her Paralympic Games debut, Porcellato topped the podium in the women's 1 km sprint sitting event.

Known at home as La Rossa Volante or the Flying Red, Porcellato made her Paralympic debut at Seoul 1988, where she won two gold, a silver and two bronze medals in Para athletics.

After earning 10 Para athletics medals across five Games, she switched to Para cycling and won two bronze medals at Rio 2016 and a silver at Tokyo 2020. Last year, she competed in Para cycling at Paris 2024, her 12th Games.

PyeongChang 2018: Manuel Pozzerle claims first Para snowboard medal

Manuel Pozzerle made history at the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games, winning Italy's first medal in Para snowboard.

More than 20 years after taking up snowboard, Pozzerle took silver in the men's snowboard cross SB-UL event. He finished 0.99 seconds behind Australian gold medallist Simon Patmore. Mike Minor of the USA took bronze.

After the race, Pozzerle said his goal in PyeongChang was to finish among the top four and added that he wanted to dedicate the medal to his family.

Beijing 2022: Giacomo Bertagnolli bags two golds and two silvers

Giacomo Bertagnolli bagged two gold and two silver medals at Yangqing National Alpine Skiing Centre, becoming Italy's most successful athlete of Beijing 2022.

Bertagnolli, Italy's flagbearer at the Opening Ceremony, exceeded expectations, being the only athlete from his country to win a gold medal in China. Bertagnolli won the men's super combined and slalom vision impaired events with his guide skier Andrea Ravelli.

"Every medal has a unique story," said Bertagnolli, who captured four medals, including two golds, on his Paralympic debut at PyeongChang 2018.

"But the one I remember very clearly is the first gold medal in Beijing with Andrea because it was the gold medal in the super combined – that was the only medal I didn't win in 2018 in PyeongChang. It was the first gold medal and the one missing so it was special for me.

"From that medal on, I was super chill, and I just focused on the other races."

At Milano Cortina 2026, the home star is aiming to win more medals in front of a home crowd, and he is confident that he is on the right path. He won two events at the Para Alpine World Championships in February.

"I think (Milano Cortina 2026) will be a very cool event, and I want to be ready to do my best," he said.

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Secure your tickets for the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games  

Milano Cortina 2026, which takes place from 6-15 March 2026, is set to be the most beautiful Paralympic Winter Games yet. Ticket prices start at EUR 10 for children under 14, with approximately 89 per cent of the tickets available for EUR 35 or less. Specially-priced Early Bird tickets are available until 6 May 2025.

For more information, please visit tickets.milanocortina2026.org