By Anietie anii-bassey
Russian para alpine skiers Varvara Voronchikhina and Aleksei Bugaev secured Russia’s first Paralympic medals since 2014 on Saturday, each claiming bronze in their respective downhill standing events at the 2026 Winter Paralympics in Milan–Cortina.
Their podium finishes marked a significant moment for Russia’s return to international Paralympic competition under its own national flag after years of restrictions tied to doping sanctions and geopolitical tensions.
Voronchikhina competed in the downhill race for visually impaired athletes, delivering a determined performance that placed her among the event’s top finishers. Bugaev earned his bronze in the men’s downhill standing category for athletes with an impairment in one arm, completing a strong run that secured Russia a place on the podium early in the Games.
For both athletes, the medals represented more than personal achievement. They symbolized the country’s reemergence on one of the world’s biggest adaptive sports stages after years in which Russian competitors were required to participate under neutral status rather than under their national identity.
“For us, it has been a very long time without our flag,” Voronchikhina said after the race. “I’m very glad, and my country and all my teammates are glad as well.”
Voronchikhina is expected to compete in additional alpine skiing events during the Games and is considered a strong contender for further podium finishes as the competition continues.
The return of Russian athletes competing under their national banner also means the possibility that Russia’s national anthem could be played if one of its competitors wins gold — something that has not occurred at a major global sporting event since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and earlier sanctions related to state-sponsored doping violations.
While Russia celebrated its return to the medal table, Ukraine delivered an impressive opening day of competition. Ukrainian athletes captured six medals, including three golds, with all of them coming in para biathlon events.
Among the standout performers was Oleksandra Kononova, who won gold in the women’s sprint standing race. Speaking after her victory, Kononova dedicated the achievement to her country and its armed forces.
“Glory to Ukraine,” she said. “I’m really happy and I would like to dedicate my victory to all the Ukrainian people and the Ukrainian army because these are difficult times for our country. We have a war and Ukraine is fighting. We are trying to represent Ukraine as best as we can.”
Another Ukrainian competitor, Liudmyla Liashenko, added a bronze medal in the same discipline and echoed similar sentiments of gratitude and remembrance.
“We are honored to represent Ukraine here and we are very thankful to our army protecting Ukraine right now,” Liashenko said. “We also honor all the athletes and warriors who have died in this war.”
Russia arrived at the Paralympics with a small delegation of six athletes after receiving wildcard entries from the International Paralympic Committee. The decision to allow Russian athletes to compete under their national flag sparked controversy among some nations, including Ukraine, and led several delegations to boycott the opening ceremony.
The Russian flag was displayed publicly during the athletes’ parade at the opening ceremony held at the historic Arena di Verona in Verona. The moment marked the first time Russia’s national banner had appeared at the Paralympic Games since the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi.
During the ceremony, a small number of boos could be heard from sections of the crowd as Russian athletes entered the arena, reflecting lingering political tensions surrounding their return.
Despite the mixed reaction, Voronchikhina said the athletes had received a warm welcome overall since arriving in Italy.
“It’s really good,” she said. “In the village everything is good — the atmosphere is good and the conditions are very good.”
Voronchikhina declined to comment on the prospect of competing against Ukrainian athletes during the Games.
Two additional Russian competitors also took part in para snowboarding events on Saturday: Filipp Shebbo and Dmitrii Fadeev. Although they did not reach the podium, Shebbo described the moment as an important milestone for Russian athletes returning to the international stage.
“It was perfect,” he said. “A good moment for Russia and for the athletes. Hopefully this will continue. We had been waiting for this for a long time.”
The reappearance of Russia’s flag at the Paralympics has been widely viewed as a potential step toward the country’s full return to international sporting events, including future Olympic competitions such as the 2028 Summer Olympics scheduled to take place in Los Angeles.
For now, the early races at Milan–Cortina have highlighted both the sporting achievements and the political complexities surrounding the Games, where athletes from nations involved in ongoing geopolitical tensions are competing side by side on the same slopes and courses.
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