Varvara Voronchikhina wins gold for Russia at the 2026 Winter Paralympics

At the 2026 Winter Paralympics in Milan-Cortina, Russian skier Varvara Voronchikhina won the gold medal in the women's standing super-G event with a time of 1:15.60. This marks the first Russian gold medal at the Winter Paralympics since 2014. The International Paralympic Committee reinstated Russia and Belarus in September 2025 following a general assembly vote, leading to the participation of six Russian and four Belarusian athletes. During the opening ceremony in Verona on March 6, several nations staged a boycott in protest against the inclusion of these athletes following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. While one report indicates the IPC board decided to reinstate the athletes, another source notes the Court of Arbitration for Sport played a role in the decision. Voronchikhina previously won bronze in the downhill event at the same games. French athlete Aurelie Richard took silver and Swedish skier Ebba Aarsjoe secured the bronze. Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev officially congratulated the athlete on her victory.