Medals, milestones as Aussies round out Winter Paralympic campaign 

The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) has congratulated the Australian Paralympic Team on a campaign defined by historic milestones and an enduring streak of success at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games.

Led by co-flag bearers Ben Tudhope and Georgia Gunew, the 14-strong Australian team secured a silver medal, a bronze medal and eight top 10 finishes, maintaining the nation’s proud record of winning a medal at every Winter Paralympics since 1992.

Tudhope spearheaded the results, claiming silver in the Men’s Snowboard Cross and bronze in the Men’s Snowboard Banked Slalom SB-LL2. The 26-year-old showed incredible resilience and heart, overcoming a dislocated shoulder during his Snowboard Cross heats to improve on his bronze from Beijing in 2022.

The Games also saw the rise of a new generation, with 16-year-old Para alpine skier Liana France making history as Australia’s youngest ever Winter Paralympian as she claimed a 14th-place finish in the Women’s Giant Slalom Standing and 14th in Slalom.

Dual Winter and Summer Paralympians also put in standout performances, with Lauren Parker recording four top-10 finishes across six events (a 9th and 10th in biathlon’s 12.5km individual and sprint pursuit events, and an 8th in the 10km to accompany her final day 10th in the 20km cross-country), and Michael Milton breaking the record for the longest Australian Paralympic comeback, returning to the slopes 20 years after his last Winter Games appearance in 2006.

ASC CEO Kieren Perkins OAM, who was on the ground in Italy to support the team, praised the athletes for their dedication, professionalism and culture they built within the Village.

“The performances we have witnessed over the past 10 days show our Winter Paralympians remain world-class, elite performers,” Perkins said.

“To see Ben Tudhope push through the pain to secure silver and keep our 34-year medal streak alive was everything you could want from an Aussie athlete.

“Beyond the results, the camaraderie within this team has been a highlight. Watching veterans like Michael Milton compete alongside debutants like Liana France shows the incredible heart of Australian sport. I can’t wait to see what comes next as the new crop of Para stars emerge.”

The team’s strong performance follows record Australian Government investment, including $54.9 million through the Para Uplift project. This funding has already established Para Sport Units in every state and territory and provided direct grants to athletes to address critical performance barriers.

“The success of this team is a testament to their hard work and the targeted investment provided through programs like the Para Uplift. We are committed to removing the systemic barriers our Para athletes face, ensuring they have the specialised coaching, equipment, and support needed to thrive,” Perkins said.

“It won’t be long until our Para athletes are making Australia proud once again when many of them compete at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in July.”

The Para Uplift project offered direct funding support to six Milano Cortina athletes, enabled the appointment of two dedicated Para sport engineers to the AIS Engineering team and funding and career development for coaches, including three Milano Cortina coaches.

Since Beijing 2022, the Australian Government has invested a total of $37.5 million in high performance winter programs, ensuring Australian athletes remain competitive on the world stage.

Australian Sports Commission