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Ukraine Opens Paralympics at the Top of Medal Table With Six Medals

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Photo of Ivan Khomenko
Ivan Khomenko
News Writer
Oleksandra Kononova of Ukraine competes in the women’s standing sprint during the para biathlon event at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games in Val di Fiemme, Italy, on March 7, 2026, where she won a gold medal for Ukraine. (Source: Getty Imag
Oleksandra Kononova of Ukraine competes in the women’s standing sprint during the para biathlon event at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games in Val di Fiemme, Italy, on March 7, 2026, where she won a gold medal for Ukraine. (Source: Getty Imag

Ukraine’s Paralympic team moved to the top of the medal standings on the first day of the 2026 Paralympic Games after winning six medals in biathlon events, according to the National Sports Committee for the Disabled of Ukraine and the Paralympic Committee of Ukraine.

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According to the official medal table and statements published by the National Sports Committee for the Disabled of Ukraine on March 7, Ukrainian athletes secured three gold medals, one silver, and two bronze during the opening competitions, placing the country first overall after day one of the Games.

The medal table after the first day of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games shows Ukraine in first place with three gold, one silver, and two bronze medals, ahead of China and Austria. (Source: Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Games official website)
The medal table after the first day of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games shows Ukraine in first place with three gold, one silver, and two bronze medals, ahead of China and Austria. (Source: Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Games official website)

The first gold medal for Ukraine was won by Taras Rad in the sitting class of the para biathlon competition. Later in the day, Oleksandra Kononova secured another gold medal for Ukraine in the standing sprint race, while Liudmyla Liashenko added a bronze in the same event.

Additional medals were awarded in the visually impaired sprint race, where Ukrainian athletes occupied all three podium positions. Oleksandr Kazik won gold, Yaroslav Reshetynskyi finished with silver, and Anatolii Kovalevskyi claimed bronze.

According to the Paralympic medal standings following the first day of competition, Ukraine leads the overall table with six medals, ahead of China, which also collected six medals but secured fewer gold medals.

Ukraine is represented at the 2026 Paralympic Games by its largest delegation to date, with a total of 35 participants. The team includes 25 competing athletes and 10 guides who assist visually impaired competitors.

Taras Rad of Ukraine competes at the shooting range during the men’s sitting sprint in para biathlon on the opening day of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games in Val di Fiemme, Italy, on March 7, 2026, where he won Ukraine’s first gold medal of the Games. (Source: Getty Images)
Taras Rad of Ukraine competes at the shooting range during the men’s sitting sprint in para biathlon on the opening day of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games in Val di Fiemme, Italy, on March 7, 2026, where he won Ukraine’s first gold medal of the Games. (Source: Getty Images)

Ukrainian athletes are scheduled to compete in several disciplines during the Games, including para biathlon, para cross-country skiing, para alpine skiing, and para snowboarding.

Earlier, Ukraine announced they would boycott the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games in protest of the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes under their national flags

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