Italian Snowboarders Dominate at Milan Cortina 2026 Paralympics

The 2026 Winter Paralympics in Milan Cortina witnessed a stellar performance from the Italian Para snowboard team, securing multiple gold medals and reaching a historic milestone in medal count. Emanuel Perathoner and Jacopo Luchini led the charge, with Perathoner becoming the first snowboarder to win two gold medals in a single Paralympic Games.

Italian Medal Haul Reaches Historic Levels

Italy’s Paralympic team achieved a remarkable feat on March 13, 2026, equaling their record of 13 medals from the 1994 Lillehammer Winter Paralympics. This achievement was highlighted by the success of Giacomo Bertagnolli, who won a silver medal in the Vision Impaired Giant Slalom, guided by Andrea Ravelli. Chiara Mazzel had previously contributed to the medal count with a silver medal in the visually impaired giant slalom.

Perathoner Makes History with Double Gold

Emanuel Perathoner secured his second gold medal of the Games in the men’s banked slalom SB-LL2, adding to his victory in the snowboard cross event. This historic win makes him the first snowboarder to achieve a double gold in the same Paralympic Games.

Luchini Claims Gold in Banked Slalom

Jacopo Luchini as well contributed to Italy’s golden run, winning gold in the men’s banked slalom SB-UL. His performance further solidified Italy’s dominance in the Para snowboard events.

Medal Table Highlights Italian Success

As of March 13, 2026, the medal table showcased Italy’s strong performance:

• Italy (ITA): 3 Gold, 2 Silver, 2 Bronze (Total: 7)
• United States (USA): 1 Gold, 0 Silver, 1 Bronze (Total: 2)
• China (CHN): 0 Gold, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze (Total: 2)
• Japan (JPN): 0 Gold, 1 Silver, 0 Bronze (Total: 1)
• Switzerland (SUI): 0 Gold, 1 Silver, 0 Bronze (Total: 1)
• Australia (AUS): 0 Gold, 0 Silver, 1 Bronze (Total: 1)

Banked Slalom Results – SB-UL

Here are the top results from the men’s banked slalom SB-UL competition:

1. Jacopo Luchini (Italy): 56.28
2. Wang Pengyao (China): 56.62
3. Jiang Zihao (China): 57.03
4. Ji Lijia (China): DSQ
5. Aron Fahrni (Switzerland): 57.17

Looking Ahead

Italy’s strong start to the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics sets a high bar for continued success. With several events still to come, the Italian team aims to surpass their previous medal record and further cement their position as a leading force in Paralympic sports.