China Sends Record 70 Athletes to 2026 Winter Paralympics

China just announced its biggest Winter Paralympics team ever, with 70 athletes heading to Italy next week to compete in the Milano Cortina 2026 Games. The delegation shatters previous records for both team size and number of events entered by Chinese Paralympic athletes at an overseas Winter Games.

The team will compete in 71 events across six sports, including alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, ice hockey, snowboarding, and wheelchair curling. Competition runs from March 6 to 15 in the Italian Alps.

Among the 70 athletes, 62 bring previous Paralympic experience while eight will make their debut on the world stage. They come from nine different regions across China, represent diverse backgrounds as students, workers, and freelancers, and average 27 years old.

One standout is Guo Yujie, a 21-year-old biathlete who made history at the 2022 Beijing Games as China's first female Winter Paralympic champion in an individual event. Despite managing pain from a lumbar disc injury sustained during training, she's pushing through with help from massage therapy, medication, and counseling support.

"Even though I was sometimes frustrated by physical fatigue and even doubted my capability, I have now recalibrated myself and am ready to push for excellence," Guo said.

The Ripple Effect

The growing team size reflects something bigger than medals. China has invested heavily in training technology and athlete wellbeing, using drones to map snowboarding trails and devices to measure heart rates and speeds for precision improvements.

Coach Liu Song says preparation now includes psychological support and recovery programs alongside physical training. His snowboard team recently switched their practice schedule to afternoons to simulate the softer snow conditions they'll face in Italy, showing the detailed planning behind each athlete's success.

The delegation's goals extend beyond competition. They aim to showcase China's progress in supporting people with disabilities and inspire broader sports participation among disabled individuals nationwide.

More than 600 athletes from over 52 countries are expected to compete in what promises to be the largest Winter Paralympics yet, each one proving that determination knows no limits.