Gold medallists of cross-country skiing relay Chinese team celebrate on the podium during the medal ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games in Val di Fiemme, Italy, March 14, 2026. (Photo: VCG)
At the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Paralympics, China captured its first-ever gold medal in the cross-country skiing relay and also secured bronze in the mixed relay.
The open relay featured four 2.5-kilometer legs, with no gender restrictions and a combined disability factor limit. Visually impaired skier Dang Hesong kept pace with leaders Ukraine and Germany, while Wang Tao, competing in the sitting category, maintained the gap during the team's fastest legs. Wang Chenyang, racing in the standing category, cut a 24.8-second deficit to just 0.9 seconds, moving China into second place. On the final leg, Yu Shuang, fresh from a biathlon victory, overtook Germany to clinch gold.
Zhang Wenjing of China, competes in her first run of the alpine skiing women's giant slalom sitting at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, March 14, 2026. (Photo: VCG)
In alpine skiing, Zhang Wenjing claimed gold in the women's sitting slalom with a total time of 1:27.69, narrowly defeating Nette Kiviranta of Finland and Audrey Pascual of Spain. Teammate Liu Sitong finished fifth, demonstrating a competitive performance amid a deep international field.
In the standing slalom event, Ebba Aarsjoe of Sweden took gold, while Aurelie Richard of France earned silver. China's Zhu Wenjing captured bronze, and Zhang Mengqiu finished fourth, just outside the medals.
Wheelchair Curling Mixed Team Gold Medal game between Team People's Republic of China and Team Canada of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, March 14, 2026. (Photo: VCG)
In the final of wheelchair curling, two-time defending champions China were narrowly defeated 4-3 by Canada, earning silver and marking the delegation's 100th Paralympic medal. The match remained tightly contested throughout, with both teams trading single points in the early ends. Key shots from Zhang Mingliang kept China in contention, including a crucial precision throw in the seventh end. In the eighth and final end, Canada's last delivery edged closest to the center, securing gold and leaving China with silver.