Kiwi Paralympian Peters Finishes Top 5 in Treacherous Race

When nearly half the athletes in your race can't even make it to the finish line, just completing the course becomes a victory worth celebrating.

New Zealand Paralympian Corey Peters did more than survive the treacherous giant slalom at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games. He secured fifth place in the men's sitting category, capping off an incredible Games with his third top-six finish.

The conditions on Saturday were brutal. Soft snow turned the course into a minefield that claimed 18 of 37 starters who couldn't complete their runs. Peters navigated both runs with a combined time of 2:18.12, proving his skill extended beyond his preferred downhill events.

For a brief, thrilling moment during the second run, Peters held the gold medal position. He sat just 0.01 seconds ahead of Chile's Nicolás Hudson Bisquertt before later competitors pushed him down the standings. But the 42-year-old took it in stride.

"I'm pretty happy considering giant slalom isn't my favored event, but stoked to get down and get another finish under my belt and another top five," Peters said. "It was challenging conditions out there, so just to survive it was special."

Peters had already proven himself earlier in the Games with a fifth-place finish in downhill and sixth in super-G. This final result rounded out a stellar performance across multiple events.

Why This Inspires

Peters' attitude captures what makes Paralympic athletes so remarkable. He competed in an event that wasn't even his specialty, faced conditions that knocked out half the field, briefly tasted gold, and walked away grateful for the experience. No bitterness about missing the podium. Just appreciation for surviving the challenge and delivering another strong performance.

His Wānaka-based teammate Adam Hall showed the same resilient spirit, finishing 22nd in his first giant slalom at a Paralympic Winter Games since 2006. Hall treated the race as preparation for his premier event, the slalom, showing the long-game thinking that defines elite athletes.

Italy's Rene de Silvestro ultimately claimed gold with a time of 2:10.44, with the Netherlands' Niels de Langen taking silver and Norway's Jesper Pedersen earning bronze.

For Peters, three top-six finishes at 42 years old proves that perseverance and skill can triumph over brutal conditions and tough competition alike.