The Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games featured 79 medal events across six sports – Para alpine skiing, Para biathlon, Para cross-country skiing, Para ice hockey, Para snowboard and wheelchair curling.
Milano Cortina 2026 was a special Games for Czechia as the country claimed its first Paralympic gold medal since Salt Lake City 2002. Athletes claimed a total of six medals across four sports: Para alpine skiing, Para biathlon, Para cross-country skiing and Para ice hockey. Czechia’s Para ice hockey team delivered one its best performances at Milano Cortina 2026.
Here are Czechia’s top moments from the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games.
Teenage sensation Simona Bubenickova becomes youngest Milano Cortina 2026 medallist
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Bubenickova made her Paralympic debut at Milano Cortina 2026. @OIS/Giovanni Zenoni
Teenager Simona Bubenickova surprised the crowd at the Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium, securing four medals and becoming the youngest medallist of the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics.
The 17-year-old athlete won two silver medals in Para cross-country skiing, as well as a silver and a bronze in Para biathlon.
Asked her secret to success after her final race of the Games, she said, “I don’t know. It’s been a very successful Paralympic Games. It’s been up and down and in the sprint it wasn’t too good as I fell down, but it’s history and it’s nice with three silver medals and a bronze.”
Bubenickova said she is excited to make another appearance at the Winter Games. In four years, she will be gunning for the top spot on the podium, the only colour medal she is missing from her impressive collection.
“I’m very hungry for another successful result. I’m very much looking forward to the next Paralympic Games, in France (French Alps 2030).”
Carina Edlingerova wins Czechia’s first gold since Salt Lake City 2002
Edlingerova secured her first Para biathlon gold medal. @OIS/Elettra Azzolin
Carina Edlingerova made history for Czechia by winning the country’s first gold medal since Salt Lake City 2002 and its first medal since Vancouver 2010.
Edlingerova, who represented Austria at PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022, won her maiden gold four years ago in Para cross-country skiing. With guide Alexandr Patava, she topped the podium in the women’s sprint pursuit vision impaired event for her first gold medal in Para biathlon.
“I have always considered myself just a cross-country skier and I had a bet with Alex today, that in case I’d win, I’d be forced to call myself a biathlete, so thanks for that,” she said.
She also claimed another medal in Para biathlon, a silver in the women’s sprint.
“Basically, the last years I always had a love-hate relationship with biathlon. I was never the patient one, mostly I just wanted to throw the rifle at the target.
“(But) I started to focus on biathlon, and most important was a mindset shift,” she said.
Czechia’s Para ice hockey team advance to semifinals for the first time
Czechia’s Para ice hockey team finished fourth at Milano Cortina 2026. @Buda Mendes/Getty Images
At Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, Czechia’s Para ice hockey team advanced to the medal round for the first time since they made their Paralympic debut 16 years ago. The team finished fourth in the eight-team tournament as the highest ranked squad from Europe.
In the bronze medal game, Czechia scored twice in the first period against Beijing 2022 bronze medallists China before losing 3-2.
Pavek Kubes opened the scoring and Czechia held onto the advantage for most of the game, but China came from behind in the final period. Czechia, who finished fifth at Beijing 2022, are looking to finish on the podium at French Alps 2030.
“The work never stops, and we need to continue to improve. All the other teams in the top four play at a very high level, and it’s on us to keep up with them, if not surpass them. We need to continue the hard work,” defender Radek Zelinka said.