The 2026 Winter Paralympics began on March 6 and ended on March 15. These games mark the 50th anniversary of the first Paralympic Games back in 1976 in Sweden. While all the participating athletes are a part of Paralympic history, a few athletes stood out and have made a long history in these games.
Cécile Hernandez is a para snowboarder from France who has multiple sclerosis. She recently won a gold medal in the women’s SB-LL2 snowboard cross. Hernandez, 51, is now the oldest medalist in the sport.
Akari Fukunishi is a Japanese sled hockey player who was born with a lower-body disability. Fukunishi is the only woman rostered in the 2026 Paralympic sled hockey tournament as a whole. Additionally, she is only the fourth woman in Paralympic sled hockey history to participate. Even though the event is co-ed, it is very male-dominated. There is a push for a women’s sled hockey tournament to be introduced in the 2030 Winter Paralympics.
Oksana Masters is a Paralympian athlete who participates in skiing and the biathlon for Team United States (USA/US). Masters was born and raised in Ukraine until the age of seven, when she was adopted and moved to the U.S. Because of her proximity to Chornobyl and its radiation when she was born, Masters was born with extra toes and missing fingers, finger webbing, and issues in her legs that eventually led to a double leg amputation.
Masters is now the most decorated U.S. Winter Paralympian in history with over 20 medals between the Winter and Summer Paralympics. Just this year alone, she won two gold medals in cross-country skiing and another in the biathlon. In the summer games, she competes in rowing and cycling.
Amanda Reid will be competing in the banked slalom and snowboard cross for Australia. Reid has cerebral palsy and will be accompanied by her service dog Odell. Reid will be making history as the first Indigenous athlete chosen to compete for Australia in the Winter Paralympics.
Declan Farmer is an alternate captain for Team USA’s sled hockey team. This 2026 tournament will mark Farmer’s 4th Paralympic appearance. He now holds the record for most Paralympic career points by passing the previous record holder with 54 points. Farmer has 18 points already in the tournament through three games. The sled hockey team still has more games to compete in, and Farmer is expected to continue raising the all-time points record.
These 2026 Winter Paralympic Games have seen success from numerous teams, athletes, and countries. New records have been set in numerous sports, and history has been made in terms of the competition and in diversity.