All articles tagged with #paralympics
Alex Zanardi, the Italian former CART champion who became a Paralympic gold medalist after two life-changing crashes, has died at 59; his family said he passed away peacefully and that the cause of death was not disclosed. Zanardi survived a 2001 crash that amputated his legs and a 2020 handbike crash, then went on to win four Paralympic golds and inspire countless people, earning tributes from Pope Francis and Italian officials.
Alex Zanardi, the Bologna-born racer who survived a 2001 crash that cost him both legs and later won CART titles and Paralympic handcycling golds, died at 59 on May 1, leaving a legacy of courage and a lasting impact on motorsport.
Italian racing legend Alex Zanardi, who lost both legs in a 2001 CART crash and later became a Paralympic gold-medalist with four golds across 2012 and 2016, has died at 59, his family announced. Zanardi recovered with custom prosthetics, designed his own and returned to racing with hand controls, later competing in endurance events and the Rolex 24 at Daytona in 2019; his resilience drew tributes from leaders including Italy’s Giorgia Meloni and Pope Francis, with funeral arrangements still pending.
Italian racing legend Alex Zanardi, who rebuilt his career as a Paralympic gold medalist after a life-changing crash, has died at 59, leaving a lasting legacy of perseverance and sporting achievement.
The United States defeated Canada 6-2 in the para ice hockey final at the 2026 Winter Paralympics in Milan, securing gold and completing a historic U.S. sweep of the Paralympic hockey competition.
Oksana Masters cruised to gold in the 7.5km sitting biathlon at Milan-Cortina 2026, her 20th Paralympic medal, after overcoming a leg infection and concussion earlier in the lead‑up. Kendall Gretsch earned silver as the U.S. podium sweep continued, with both athletes set to compete again Sunday in the 12.5km sitting event.
Iran will not compete in Milano Cortina 2026 after its lone Paralympian, Aboulfazl Khatibi Mianaei, cannot safely travel to Italy amid regional conflict and communication disruptions, with Iran’s flag removed from the opening parade.
Spanning nine days in Northern Italy, the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics feature 79 medal events across six sports—Para Alpine skiing, Para biathlon, Para cross-country skiing, Para snowboarding, sled hockey and wheelchair curling—each governed by sport-specific classifications and, in many cases, factored times to level the playing field.
IOC reiterates its commitment to a peaceful, global sporting platform and appeals to UN member states to ensure safe passage for qualified athletes to Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics amid ongoing conflicts, noting the Olympic Truce is aspirational and non-binding with enforcement resting with the UN.
The International Olympic Committee says it is open to holding future Winter Olympics and Paralympics earlier in the year to cope with warmer winter temperatures and less reliable snow, reflecting climate-change impacts on scheduling for events such as the 2026 Games in Italy.
LA28 announced that general registration for tickets to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will open in January 2026, with ticket sales starting early 2026 and Paralympics tickets in 2027, offering a variety of options including lottery entries, with prices starting at $28, and emphasizing early access for locals.
The Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic medals will feature pieces of the Eiffel Tower, with each gold, silver, and bronze medal containing a hexagonal, polished chunk of iron from the iconic landmark. The iron pieces were prepared by stripping them of paint, polishing, and varnishing, and are stamped with "Paris 2024" and the Games logo. The medals, designed by Paris jewelry house Chaumet, are unique and will be manufactured by the Paris Mint, with some stored in case of reassignment and others potentially destroyed.
The Paris 2024 Summer Olympics medals will each contain a small piece of iron from the Eiffel Tower to commemorate 100 years since the last time the city hosted the games. Crafted by the famous Chaumet House of Jewellery, the medals were designed to resemble jewels and will be the first in Olympic history to be created by a jeweler. The Olympic and Paralympic medals share a common face with the Eiffel Tower iron hexagon, while the reverse sides feature different designs. The Paralympic medals also include inscriptions in Braille to promote inclusion. The games are set to take place from July 26 to August 11 for the Olympics and from August 28 to September 8 for the Paralympics.
Oscar Pistorius, the South African former Paralympic champion known as "Blade Runner," is set to be released on parole after serving nearly nine years of his sentence for the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, in 2013. Pistorius, who made history by competing in the Olympics as a double amputee, will live under strict conditions, including therapy for anger management and attending sessions on gender-based violence. His parole comes after serving more than half of his term, with a monitoring official to oversee him until his sentence ends in December 2029.
Salt Lake City's bid to host the 2034 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, and France's bid to host the 2030 Winter Games, have advanced to "targeted dialogue" with the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The IOC Future Host Commission recommended awarding the 2030 Games to France and the 2034 Games to Salt Lake City, pending successful talks. The IOC aims to elect the hosts at next summer's IOC session, with the possibility of awarding both the 2030 and 2034 Games. The U.S. and France were previously awarded the 2028 and 2024 Summer Games, respectively.