Russian para alpine skier Varvara Voronchikhina won the bronze medal in the women's downhill standing final at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games.
The victory is significant as it represents the first time Russia has earned Paralympic medals in 12 years [5]. The nation had not seen a podium finish since the 2014 Sochi Games [5].
Voronchikhina competed on Saturday in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy [1, 2]. She secured third place with a finish time of 1:24.47 [1]. Her performance included an average speed of 89.71 km/h [1].
Despite the bronze medal finish, Voronchikhina trailed the gold medalist by 2.47 seconds [1]. The event was part of the broader alpine skiing competitions held during the 2026 Games.
The result marks a return to the medal standings for the Russian delegation, a gap that had persisted for over a decade [5].
“Russia's first Paralympic medals since 2014”
Voronchikhina's bronze medal ends a 12-year drought for Russian athletes at the Paralympic Games. This return to the podium signifies a shift in the nation's participation and competitiveness in winter para-sports following the long absence since the 2014 Sochi Games.
