By Zachary Montoya
With the closure of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, fans of the international competition still have even more to look forward to: the Winter Paralympics. Disabled athletes from all over the globe come together to show off their skills and competitive spirits, proving that no obstacle is too large.
Although thousands of athletes compete in the paralympic games, there are a few to look out for specifically. Oksana Masters is hailed as one of the most dominant Paralympians of all time. She was born with a myriad of birth defects connected to the Chernobyl disaster, including missing shin bones and one leg being much shorter. This, however, has done little to slow down her progress towards becoming a famed athlete; she is now the proud owner of 19 Paralympic medals, in sports ranging from cross country skiing to rowing. Look for Oksana Masters in the Biathlon and Cross-Country Skiing this year.
Anna Soens is another big name to look out for. In 2015, she got into a rock climbing accident and was mostly paralyzed from the waist down. She did not let this setback define her, and discovered a new passion for alpine skiing, and will be taking center stage at the upcoming Paralympic games. Anna Soens’ story is especially inspiring, as she was forced to adapt to her injuries much later in life. To come back from damage that severe is a feat that few athletes can say they have done.
The beauty of the Winter Olympics lies in the fact that the athletes that have fought to be there have stories that are inspiring to everyone, not just the disabled. In return for their inspiring hard work and dedication, it is the least we could do to tune in to the Winter Paralympics and support these persevering warriors.