Excitement is building for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games, running from 6–15 March 2026. Australia’s Winter Paralympians are preparing to take on the world on snow and ice, representing the green and gold in northern Italy.
Key points:
- The Games open on 6 March 2026 in the Arena di Verona and will be held across the Dolomites mountain range in northern Italy.
- The Games will showcase around 600 athletes competing in 79 medal events across six sports: Para alpine skiing, Para biathlon, Para cross-country skiing, Para ice hockey, Para snowboard and wheelchair curling.
- Australia’s 2026 Winter Paralympic Team, led by snowboarder Sean Pollard, is sending fifteen athletes who are expected to participate in a record four sports.
- Standout Australians include Benjamin Tudhope in Para-snowboarding, Lauren Parker in Para-cross-country skiing, Georgia Gunew in Para-alpine skiing and Dave Miln in two Para-Nordic events.
Australia on the world stage.
Here are the Australian paralympic athletes to watch at Milano Cortina 2026.
Benjamin Tudhope - Para-snowboarding
Benjamin Tudhope is one of Australia’s most successful Winter Paralympians. He is a two-time Paralympic gold medallist, known for his explosive speed out of the start gate and sharp technical riding.
Born with a limb difference, Tudhope found snowboarding as a teenager and quickly rose to the top of the sport. He thrives under pressure and often performs best when racing head-to-head. Milano Cortina may be his final Paralympic appearance and he’ll be chasing another medal to add to an already remarkable career.
Lauren Parker - Para-cross-country skiing
Lauren Parker is one of Australia’s most respected Paralympians and was named Australia’s 2024 Paralympian of the Year. She won medals at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Paralympic Games in summer events and has now set her sights on winter sport.
Lauren’s disability is a result of an accident that took place in 2017 while she was training for the National Triathlon Australia. Her paraplegia did not stop her from pursuing her goal of competing in sport at the highest level.
At Milano Cortina, Lauren is taking on a new challenge in Para-cross country skiing, bringing her trademark toughness, endurance and elite mindset to the snow.
Georgia Gunew – Para-alpine skiing
Georgia Gunew is a rising force in Para-alpine skiing and one of Australia’s strongest medal prospects for Milano Cortina 2026. She competes in the visually impaired classification and races with a sighted guide, skiing down the slopes at more than 100 kilometres per hour.
Georgia won her first World Cup medal in 2023 and won two more World Cup medals in the 2024–25 season in slalom and giant slalom. She was awarded Snow Australia’s Female Para-Alpine Athlete of the Year in 2024 and 2025 and is among the top 10 para-athletes in the world across several winter sports.
Georgia’s vision loss is caused by Stargardt’s macular dystrophy, a genetic condition that caused her to lose her central vision during her teens. A former recreational skier and competitive hockey player, she returned to the snow after her grandmother encouraged her to try Para-skiing.
Dave Miln - Para-biathlon / Para-cross country
Dave Miln has only been participating in Para-sports for a few years, but has already shown he can compete at the highest level. Dave first competed for Australia in Para-biathlon and Para-cross country, also known as the Para-Nordic sports, in 2024 at the Para-Biathlete World Cup. His goal for Milano Cortina 2026 is to be the first Australian athlete to compete in the Para Nordic events at the Winter Paralympics in more than 20 years.
In 2022, Dave was injured by a snow blower while on a skiing vacation with his family in Northern California, which resulted in the amputation of his left leg above the knee. Dave made the switch to a sit-skier and has used the skills that he developed in the military as an athlete.
How to watch.
You can follow the action live on the Nine Network, with coverage across Channel 9, 9Now and Stan Sport. Viewers can expect live events, highlights and athlete stories throughout the Games.
You can learn more about Paralympic sports at www.paralympic.org.au.
