The multisport world is witnessing a remarkable convergence this week as the frozen landscapes of Northern Italy prepare to host the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games. In a display of versatility, a select group of elite Para triathletes has transitioned -even if temporarily- from the blue carpet to the snow slopes of the Alps. A crossover that highlights a shared DNA between triathlon and Nordic sports: the requirement for a massive aerobic engine, technical precision under pressure, and the mental fortitude to manage the 'invisible clock' of a multisport race.
At the heart of this crossover is the discipline of Para Biathlon, a sport that acts as the winter sibling to the triathlon. While triathletes are accustomed to the shift from a high-intensity swim to a technical bike leg, followed by a run, biathletes must master another physiological leap. The sport requires athletes to race on cross-country skis—with the wheelchair athletes using sit-skis that demand immense upper-body power similar to the handcycling or swimming strokes used in the PTWC triathlon categories—only to come to a dead stop at the shooting range. Here, with a heart rate often exceeding 180 beats per minute, they must instantly find the stillness required to hit five targets from a distance of 10 meters using specialized air rifles.
For these athletes, the rifle is not just a piece of equipment but a test of neurological control. They must regulate their breathing and quickly lower their heartbeats to ensure a steady aim. Much like a drafting violation or a slow transition in triathlon can cost a race, a single missed shot in biathlon carries heavy consequences, typically resulting in a 150-meter penalty lap or a one-minute time addition. This creates a high-stakes psychological drama where the fastest skier can lose everything in the final shooting bout.
Leading the team of Para triathletes competing in Milano Cortina is the incomparable Lauren Parker. The Australian powerhouse, who secured gold at the Paris 2024 Paralympics after a silver medal in Tokyo 2020, holds a staggering 11 world titles in Para triathlon. She has also competed in Para cycling (earning another two medals at the Paris Paralympics) and now has decided to swap her racing wheelchair for a sit-ski and give a try to Para Biathlon.
Parker will bring a relentless competitive drive to the Para Biathlon events starting on March 7. Her transition to the snow is born from a desire to constantly evolve, a sentiment she has echoed by stating that her journey is about being an 'over-comer' and adapting to every environment the world of sport offers.
She will be joined in Milano Cortina by the legendary Kendall Gretsch of the United States, 6-times Winter Paralympics medallists and one of the most successful crossover Para triathletes in history. Gretsch, a gold medalist in the Tokyo 2020 Para triathlon, is a returning winter champion who finds the snowy tracks of Italy as familiar as the blue carpets of a World Triathlon event. The classic rivalry between Parker and Gretsch will not be replicated in the Winter Paralympics, as the American will be competing in the Para cross-country races.
Gretsch pedigree in the women’s sitting sprint and long-distance cross-country skiing makes her a focal point of the American 'power squad' alongside fellow Para triathlete Joshua Sweeney. Sweeney, a former Para Ice Hockey star turned Para triathlete and Nordic skier, exemplifies the grit of the US program, bringing his experience from the Sochi 2014 Games into the individual Para biathlon events on March 8.
The European contingent is equally strong, led by Italian favorite Giuseppe Romele. Known for his explosive power in the PTWC triathlon circuit, Romele is a local hero in Milano Cortina. His ability to generate massive torque through his arms makes him a natural favorite in the 10km and 20km cross-country sitting events, where he hopes to improve upon his Beijing 2022 bronze on home soil.
Meanwhile, Austria’s Oliver Dreier represents the technical side of the winter-summer divide. A 2015 Para triathlon world champion, Dreier has traded the swim-bike-run for the high-speed banked slalom and snowboard cross, proving that the balance and core strength of a world-class Para triathlete are universal assets.
Rounding out this group is Japan’s Keiichi Sato. A veteran of the standing categories, Sato’s ability to maintain focus throughout a grueling Para biathlon sprint is a direct reflection of his years spent competing at the highest levels of the World Triathlon Para Series.
The Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games will officially start with an electric Opening Ceremony at the historic Verona Arena on March 6. Over the course of ten days of high-intensity competition, approximately 665 athletes from 56 nations will compete at the 79 medal events across six core sports: Para alpine skiing, Para Biathlon, Para cross-country skiing, Para ice hockey, Para snowboard, and wheelchair curling.