Italy's Emanuel Perathoner Chases Gold at Home Paralympics

Emanuel Perathoner's journey to the Paralympics began with a devastating knee injury that ended his Olympic skiing career but opened an unexpected door to Para snowboarding greatness.

The 39-year-old Italian has won nine of ten World Cup races this season in his sport class, making him a home crowd favorite as Milano Cortina 2026 kicks off three days of Para snowboard competition on March 7. He'll compete just two hours from his hometown with friends and family cheering him on.

"There is a lot of expectation because they are in Italy, close to home," Perathoner said. "I'm ready to go for it."

Eight medal events will unfold at Cortina Para Snowboard Park, featuring snowboard cross and banked slalom competitions. Athletes compete in three classes based on their abilities, including lower-limb and upper-limb impairments.

China enters as the defending powerhouse after claiming ten medals at Beijing 2022, up from zero before that. Chinese rider Lijia Ji returns to defend his snowboard cross title and arrives after winning world championships in both events.

Canada's Tyler Turner knows defending his Beijing gold won't be easy. As a skydiving instructor who understands pressure, he's watching the rapid improvement of Japanese, Chinese, and US competitors closely.

Team USA brings serious momentum through Paralympic newcomer Kate Delson, who won the World Cup Crystal Globe after topping podiums five times this season. Veteran Noah Elliott also returns to form after winning the overall Crystal Globe for the 2024-25 season.

Why This Inspires

Australia's Amanda Reid represents a barrier-breaking moment as the country's first indigenous Winter Paralympian. She's already a three-time Paralympic gold medalist in Para cycling from summer games and won the 2023 world championship in snowboard cross after transitioning to snow sports.

Italy's Jacopo Luchini, who also surfs competitively, recently won a World Cup race and is thrilled about one particular home advantage. "Now I'll be sure to have my Italian food, my pasta and proteins, which is very important," he said.

The competition runs March 7-8 for snowboard cross and wraps March 14 with banked slalom finals. What started as a US-dominated sport at Sochi 2014 has grown into a truly global competition where athletes from six continents push each other to new heights.

These athletes prove that setbacks can become setup moments for something even greater.