Paralympic Milestones on the Road to Milano Cortina 2026

In just under a year, Team USA’s elite Paralympic athletes will compete in 79 disciplines spread across six sports for coveted hardware at the Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. After the broadcasting success of the Paralympic Games Paris 2024, the winter Paralympic athletes are hoping for the same boost in popularity and visibility. Fans who tuned into the Paris 2024 will also see some familiar faces, as a handful of Team USA athletes compete in both summer and winter Paralympic sports. During the 2025 season, U.S. athletes showcased their skills on the slopes and the ice, making selecting the roster for 2026 an incredibly tough decision for every sport.

Below is a list of the top moments of each Paralympic sport during the 2025 winter season:

Audrey Crowley Debuts with Worlds Bronze

• 18-year-old Audrey Crowley is among the youngest Para alpine skiers on Team USA. But that hasn’t stopped her from already making a splash and collecting podium finishes at the highest level of competition. The Eagle, Colorado, native put the world on notice during the 2025 season by capturing bronze during her worlds debut in the giant slalom event.

Kendall Gretsch Continues Her Dominance

• Kendall Gretsch is well on her way to cementing herself as one of the best Paralympic athletes in history. Five months after securing a silver medal in paratriathlon at Paris 2024, the multi-sport superstar claimed the Para cross-country crystal globe for the 2025 season. The Downers Grove, Illinois, native also collected six total medals, including three golds, across both world championships (biathlon and cross-country) included in Para Nordic Skiing.

Declan Farmer Makes History With Worlds Still to Play

• Three-time Paralympic gold medalist Declan Farmer has been an offensive powerhouse for Team USA for over a decade. The Tampa, Florida, native’s knack for finding the back of the net has helped him become the first U.S. sled hockey player to surpass 200 career goals. The ice hockey forward currently sits at 203 goals with the 2025 world championships still on the horizon. Team USA is set to take on Norway in the preliminary rounds on May 24.

Noah Elliott’s Undefeated Season Leads to Two Globes

• Although the Para snowboard season was shortened due to a lack of snow at some competition venues, 27-year-old Noah Elliott took advantage of every opportunity available. The Bridgeton, Missouri, native won every Para snowboarding banked slalom world cup event this season en route to claiming the banked slalom crystal globe. He also secured the overall crystal globe after his snowboard cross points were tallied. Elliott recently talked to Team USA and emphasized that 2025 and 2026 are a personal “revenge tour.”

Laura Dwyer and Steve Emt Take Top 10 Finish at Worlds

• The U.S. Wheelchair Curling squad will be on the hunt for its first-ever Paralympic medal in 2026, and they have an extra opportunity to do so given the addition of the mixed doubles event into the Paralympic program. Recently, Laura Dwyer and veteran wheelchair curler Steve Emt secured a solid top-10 finish at the 2025 mixed doubles world championship, highlighting the potential to upset the top teams for a podium finish in 2026.