From living legends to ascending stars, the depth of talent at the Winter Paralympic Games never has been greater. From the United States to across the world, here is a list of the top athletes to keep an eye on when the 2026 Paralympics begin.

Andrew Kurka

Andrew Kurka is a two-time Paralympic medalist, winning gold and securing silver in 2018 and adding a 4th-place finish in 2022 despite breaking his arm, thumb, and nose during a practice run. He previously had qualified for the 2014 Paralympics but was unable to compete after breaking his back in a training crash. A six-time world championship medalist (one gold, one silver, four bronze), and one of the strongest in his field, Kurka is known for his resilience, repeatedly battling back from major injuries as he pushes toward another Paralympic run in 2026.

Anna-Lena Forster

Germany’s Anna‑Lena Forster is one of the most decorated and consistent sit-skiers in para Alpine skiing — a nine-time Paralympic and multi-world championship medalist whose career has spanned more than a decade. She made her Paralympic debut at the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi, where she captured two silver medals and one bronze. At the 2018 Winter Paralympics she took gold twice. She carried that momentum into the 2022 Paralympics, where she added two golds and two silvers to her Paralympic tally. She has stood on top of the podium at over 40 world championships and World Cup events.

Laurie Stephens

Laurie Stephens is a five-time Paralympian and seven-time Paralympic medalist and one of the most accomplished athletes in U.S. para Alpine history. She made a stunning Paralympic debut at Torino 2006, winning gold in the downhill and super-G, along with silver in giant slalom, instantly establishing herself as one of the sport’s dominant speed skiers. She claimed a bronze at Vancouver 2010, and added two more Paralympic bronzes at the 2014 Sochi Games. She consistently finishes on the podium in downhill, super-G, giant slalom, and slalom events, and has amassed dozens of world championships and World Cup wins and top-three finishes throughout her career. Her longevity and range — remaining competitive in both speed and technical disciplines — have made her a cornerstone of the U.S. para Alpine Ski Team for years.

Giacomo Bertagnolli

Giacomo Bertagnolli is a standout Italian para-Alpine skier in the visually impaired category whose medal record makes him a strong home nation candidate at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games. During his Paralympic debut in PyeongChang 2018 he obtained two golds (slalom, giant slalom), a silver (super-G) and a bronze (downhill). Four years later in Beijing 2022, he added two more golds and two silvers to his tally, bringing his overall count to eight Paralympic medals. He has compiled a remarkable competitive record, amassing more than 70 World Cup podiums along with seven discipline titles and a haul of 15 world championship medals.

Oksana Masters, Para Biathlon & Para Cross-Country Skiing

Seven-time Paralympian Oksana Masters made history in Beijing, becoming the first American to win seven medals at one Paralympic Games and is the most decorated U.S. Winter Paralympian of all time with 14 total (including the medals she’s earned at the Summer Paralympics, her tally is 19). There she claimed three golds and four silvers across her two sports. Despite missing all of the 2024-25 season due to an infection in her leg, the 36-year-old is back in her sitski and ready to defend her titles.

Aaron Pike, Para Biathlon & Para Cross-Country Skiing

Since the 2022 Beijing Games, Minnesota-born Aaron Pike has soared to the top of both the para biathlon and para cross-country worlds. The seven-time Paralympian has collected two individual world titles in para biathlon (12.5km individual (sitting) in 2023; 7.5km sprint (sitting) in 2025), as well as third in the mixed 4x2.5km relay in para cross-country skiing (2023). Already having qualified for the Games with his 2025 title in para biathlon, Pike is headed to Milan Cortina hoping to secure his first Olympic medal.

Kendall Gretsch, Para Biathlon & Para Cross-Country Skiing

One of Team USA’s many dual threats, Kendall Gretsch is a five-time Winter Paralympic medalist, with four podium finishes in para biathlon and one in para cross-country skiing. Last season, the 33-year-old swept all three para biathlon events at 2025 Worlds, adding silver in all three individual para cross-country events as well. She also finished first overall in the 2025 Para Cross-Country World Cup and second in the 2024-25 Para Biathlon World Cup.

Oleksandra Kononova, Para Biathlon & Para Cross-Country Skiing

At just 19 years old, Ukrainian Nordic skier Oleksandra Kononova claimed three Paralympic titles between her two sports. Sixteen years later, Kononova is entering Milan Cortina as one of the most veteran skiers on the program, carrying 12 world championship titles and five Paralympic titles with her. 

Carina Edlinger, Para Cross-Country Skiing

In Beijing, Carina Edlinger made headlines not only for winning her first Paralympic gold in para cross-country skiing, but also for providing her guide dog, Riley, his own custom-made bronze medal for all the work he did getting her across the finish line. With four world championship golds, four overall World Cup titles, and three Paralympic medals, Edlinger is the most successful Austrian para cross-country skier ever.

Jake Adicoff, Para Cross-Country Skiing

After earning silver at the 2018 PyeongChang Paralympics, American Jake Adicoff announced his retirement. Hungry for more, he returned to the sport three years later and collected three medals —  two individual silvers and one relay gold — in Beijing. Now, he enters Milan Cortina as the reigning world champion in the vision impaired classification of the men’s 10km and 20km.

Brenna Huckaby

Brenna Huckaby is one of the U.S.’ most decorated para snowboarders, with three Paralympic titles to her name. At the 2022 Beijing Paralympics, she competed up a classification from SB-LL1 to SB-LL2 and still delivered standout performances, taking gold in banked slalom and bronze in snowboard cross. Those medals added to the double gold she won in PyeongChang in 2018, solidifying her as a dominant force across both major snowboard disciplines. As she sets her sights on the 2026 Milan Cortina Games, Huckaby enters the next cycle as a multi-time world champion and proven big-event racer aiming to add a fourth and fifth Paralympic gold to her résumé.

Noah Elliott

Noah Elliott is a two-time Paralympic medalist, making an immediate impact during his debut at PyeongChang 2018 with gold in banked slalom (SB-LL1) and bronze in snowboard cross. He returned at Beijing 2022 but missed the podium in both events while dealing with a painful injury that ultimately required a second amputation surgery. A steady podium presence on the World Cup circuit, Elliott continues to be one of Team USA’s leading threats in both snowboard cross and banked slalom as he builds toward a third Paralympic appearance.

Mike Schultz

Mike Schultz is a two-time Paralympian (2018, 2022) and one of the most accomplished riders in para snowboard cross. At the PyeongChang Paralympics, he won gold in snowboard cross and silver in banked slalom. He remained on the podium four years later in Beijing, adding another silver in snowboard cross to his résumé. Schultz also has collected multiple world championship medals and numerous World Cup wins and podium finishes, consistently ranking among the top SB-LL1 athletes in the world.

Tyler Turner

Tyler Turner is one of Canada’s standout para snowboarders, known for his explosive performances on the SB-LL1 circuit. After losing both legs below the knee in a skydiving accident in 2017, he rebounded spectacularly, and at the 2022 Winter Paralympics in Beijing, became the first Canadian ever to claim gold in men’s snowboard cross SB-LL1, also picking up bronze in banked slalom. Since then he’s built an impressive streak of consistency and championship form, capturing three straight World Cup Crystal Globes, and winning back-to-back world titles in snowboard cross. He’s now a co-captain of Canada’s team heading into the 2026 Winter Paralympics in Milan Cortina and goes into the Games as a leading medal hope in cross and a genuine threat in banked slalom.

Jack Wallace

Jack Wallace is a two-time Paralympian who won gold with Team USA at the 2018 and 2022 Games. The sled hockey defenseman is expected to be part of the Team USA squad that’s looking to bring home their fifth consecutive Paralympic gold medal. Wallace also is a four-time world champion and was named this year’s ‘Best Defenseman’ after winning the World Para Ice Hockey Championship. He’s also been a member of the U.S. Paracanoe national team since 2022.

Declan Farmer

Declan Farmer is three-time Paralympic gold medalist and five-time world champion. The sled hockey forward was named Tournament MVP of the most recent World Para Ice Hockey Championship after taking home gold with Team USA. Farmer is expected to be named to the U.S. sled hockey team in their quest for a fifth consecutive Paralympic gold medal. Farmer leads Team USA in all-time career goals, assists and points. He also was the first sled hockey player to score over 200 goals.

Josh Pauls

Josh Pauls is a four-time Paralympic gold medalist and seven-time world champion. The defenseman is in his 17th season on Team USA and currently is the longest-tenured player on the team. Pauls was named the U.S. Player of the Game after the U.S. won the 2025 World Para Ice Hockey Championship. He captained the 2018 & 2022 U.S. sled hockey Paralympic teams.

Malik Jones

Malik Jones won gold with Team USA sled hockey in 2022 and became the second Black athlete to represent the U.S. in sled hockey at the Paralympics. The forward also is a two-time world champion. Jones is expected to help lead the team in Milan Cortina as it aims for a fifth consecutive gold at the Paralympics.

Steve Emt 

Two-time Paralympian Steve Emt (2018, 2022) officially qualified for his third consecutive Winter Games, this time taking the ice with mixed doubles partner Laura Dwyer in Milan Cortina. Emt’s athletic journey began long before he threw stones on the sheet. Growing up, he was a star basketball player, taking his talents to West Point and then UConn to hoop for legendary coach Jim Calhoun. A few years after his collegiate career came to a close, he was drunk driving and got into a car accident that paralyzed him. He discovered wheelchair curling in 2013 to scratch his omnipresent competitive itch, and today travels around the country to share his story and encourage students to drink responsibly.

Oyuna Uranchimeg

Born and raised in Mongolia, Onyuna Uranchimeg was visiting a friend in Minnesota when the unimaginable happened. She was involved in a car accident that resulted in permanent paralysis from the waist down. Uranchimeg became depressed and wanted to take her life. “I started collecting my pain pills with an intent to take enough of them at once and sleep forever,” she revealed. Ultimately, it was her son who kept her going, and a move to the States that provided the accessibility resources she needed to live more comfortably. At 43 years old, she started curling and competed in her first Paralympics in 2022, finishing fifth (out of 11) in the wheelchair mixed curling event. At 52 years old, she’ll have another crack at earning a medal in Milan Cortina.