Italy Celebrates Record 16-Medal Haul as Milano Cortina Paralympics Close

The International Paralympic Committee has officially closed the Winter Paralympics in Italy, with president Andrew Parsons declaring the Milano Cortina 2026 edition "the biggest and most beautiful ever" during a ceremony at Cortina d'Ampezzo's ice stadium. The event delivered 16 medals for Italy—a national record—marking a significant achievement for the host nation.

Why This Matters:

• Record haul: Italy secured 7 gold, 7 silver, and 2 bronze medals, surpassing the previous best from Lillehammer 1994 and doubling the gold-medal count from prior Winter Games.

• Historic performance: This medal count represents Italy's strongest Winter Paralympic showing to date, with standout performances across Alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, and snowboard disciplines.

• Accessibility legacy: The Games prompted significant infrastructure improvements across northern Italy, with planned upgrades to train stations, metro lines, and urban facilities designed to benefit residents and visitors long-term.

• Next stop: The Paralympic torch passes to the French Alps in 2030.

A Farewell Steeped in Italian Hospitality

Andrew Parsons addressed the closing crowd in Italian, thanking "the Italian people" for their "passion, generosity, and your tiramisù," earning applause from the packed arena. His remarks underscored the warmth that volunteers brought to the fortnight of competition. The International Paralympic Committee president credited the organizing team with achieving unprecedented television and digital viewership, the highest number of competing nations, the largest athlete roster, and the greatest female participation in Winter Paralympic history.

Parsons reserved special praise for the athletes themselves, noting they "overcame pressure, expectations, and global tensions to keep attention where it belongs: on you and your sport." He highlighted that children with disabilities worldwide now have "role models who look like them competing fiercely at the highest levels."

Italy's Medal Machine: Bertagnolli, Mazzel, and Strong Performances Across Disciplines

The host nation's third-place finish in the overall medal table—behind China's 44 medals and the United States' 24—rested on standout performances across multiple disciplines. Giacomo Bertagnolli, guided by Andrea Ravelli, topped the Italian leaderboard with five podiums in five starts, including gold in the combined and slalom events in the visually impaired category. His Milano Cortina haul lifted his career tally to 13 Paralympic medals, a record for an Italian Alpine para-skier.

Chiara Mazzel, who carried the flag during the opening ceremony, matched Bertagnolli's intensity with four medals—gold in the super-G and silver in downhill, combined, and giant slalom—racing alongside guides Nicola Cotti Cottini and Fabrizio Casal. Italian para-athletes demonstrated exceptional skill across snowboard, cross-country skiing, and biathlon events, contributing to the nation's strongest Winter Paralympic performance.

Across six sports—Alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, para snowboard, para ice hockey, and wheelchair curling—Italy competed at the highest level, with athletes from more than 600 competitors representing a record number of nations earning medals.

Infrastructure and Long-Term Benefits for Residents

The Milano Cortina Paralympics prompted infrastructure investments across northern Italy designed to enhance accessibility for residents and visitors. Lombardy, Milano, and Veneto undertook upgrades to rolling stock, metro lines, mountain tourism facilities, and other urban infrastructure. The former Scalo di Porta Romana railway yard in Milano, transformed into the athletes' village, will be repurposed as housing, part of a broader infrastructure portfolio that includes renovated train stations and improved public facilities.

These planned improvements represent part of Italy's legacy commitment from hosting the Games, with organizers emphasizing that accessibility enhancements will benefit the broader community beyond the Paralympic fortnight.

From Cortina's Historic Ice to the French Alps

The Stadio del Ghiaccio in Cortina d'Ampezzo, originally built for the 1956 Winter Olympics, underwent targeted renovations to host the closing ceremony, including accessible seating across the grandstands. The Arena di Verona, which staged the opening ceremony, received similar upgrades that balanced accessibility improvements with respect for the historic Roman amphitheater.

Other competition sites will continue to serve regional and international races, ensuring the facilities earn their keep beyond the Games.

Parsons closed his remarks by inviting Paralympic athletes to reconvene "in four years in the French Alps, when once again Paralympic sport will transform the world." The next Winter Paralympics, scheduled for 2030, will build on the blueprint for accessible Games that Italy demonstrated under global scrutiny.

Cultural and Educational Ripple Effects

Beyond the physical infrastructure, the Milano Cortina cycle activated educational initiatives that enrolled Italian students and teachers in modules on inclusion and adaptive sport. Schools across Lombardy and Veneto organized field trips to competition venues and Paralympic athlete sessions, fostering engagement with disability inclusion in sport.

These programs reflect Italy's broader commitment to shifting cultural attitudes around accessibility—from regulatory compliance to quality-of-life standards. Local governments in Milan, Cortina, and other host cities have committed to ongoing attention to public accessibility as part of their Games legacy.

The volunteer corps, drawn from across northern Italy, staffed events and supported athletes throughout the fortnight, reflecting what Parsons called the warmth and generosity that Italian communities brought to welcoming the world.