Jake Adicoff Wins 2 Golds, Makes Paralympic History

Jake Adicoff crossed the finish line at the Milan-Cortina Paralympics, bowed dramatically to the crowd, and made history without even trying to.

The 30-year-old American cross-country skier just became the first openly gay man to win an individual Winter Paralympic championship. He captured gold in the men's sprint classic on Tuesday, then dominated the 10km classic just 24 hours later, finishing more than a minute and three-quarters ahead of his nearest competitor.

Adicoff, who has limited vision due to contracting chicken pox before birth, has been on this journey for over a decade. He first competed at the Paralympics as a high school student in 2014.

The Sun Valley, Idaho native took silver behind Canadian legend Brian McKeever at the 2018 and 2022 Games. Those near-misses lit a fire—when McKeever retired after winning 16 Paralympic titles, Adicoff seized his moment.

This time, his family and friends could actually be there to watch. Unlike the pandemic-restricted Beijing Games, the Milan-Cortina venues have been filled with supporters waving giant cutouts of Adicoff's face and wearing white hats with his name emblazoned across them.

"To have so many people that came out and supported us and are going to continue to support us throughout the week, it's so nice having friends and family here," Adicoff said after his second gold.

Why This Inspires

Adicoff knows representation matters at the highest levels of sport. "The higher you get in sport, the less out people that you see," he told Outsports.

His presence at the Paralympics sends a powerful message—that athletes can be openly themselves and still reach the pinnacle of their sport. He's one of only a small number of openly gay athletes competing at these Games.

For young LGBTQ+ athletes watching from home, Adicoff is proving what's possible. Being a Paralympic athlete and being openly gay aren't mutually exclusive—they're both part of his winning story.

Adicoff still has two more chances for medals this weekend, with the 20km race on Sunday and the mixed relay on Saturday. But he's already accomplished something that goes beyond the podium—showing the world that authenticity and excellence go hand in hand.