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Russia won its archetypal Winter Paralympic golden medal nether its ain emblem since 2014 arsenic skier Varvara Voronchikhina was crowned women’s super-G lasting champion connected Monday (March 9, 2026) successful Cortina.
Despite Russia’s ongoing warfare with Ukraine, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has allowed six Russian athletes and 4 from their allies Belarus to correspond their countries, accompanied by their nationalist flags, alternatively than competing arsenic neutrals.
Already a bronze medallist past weekend, erstwhile she claimed Russia’s archetypal podium quality astatine a Winter Games successful 12 years, 23-year-old Voronchikhina bushed French metallic medallist Aurelie Richard by 1.96 seconds connected the Olympia delle Tofane piste connected Monday (March 9, 2026) to assertion apical spot.
“Congratulations to Varvara Voronchikhina connected Russia’s archetypal golden medal successful the super-G astatine the Milan-Cortina Paralympics,” Russia’s Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev posted connected Telegram.
“The Russian anthem is playing,” helium added of the podium ceremony, which volition instrumentality spot aboriginal connected Monday (March 9, 2026).
Russia was banned from the 2018 Games owed to a doping scandal, though immoderate athletes were permitted to vie nether neutral colours.
Russia and Belarus were past banned from the 2022 Paralympics pursuing the penetration of Ukraine, though they were permitted to vie arsenic neutral athletes successful the Paris Summer Paralympics 2 years later.
Voronchikhina said connected Saturday (March 7, 2026), aft finishing 3rd successful the downhill, that 4 years agone she was successful Beijing acceptable to vie earlier Russia was suspended by the IPC.
“For maine it was really, truly bittersweet and I anticipation successful these Games I volition beryllium amended and it volition be,” she added.
