Michael O’Hearn, Jake Adikoff and Joe Butterfield are part of Team LGBTQ+ at the Paralympic Winter Games. (Elsa/Carmen Mandato/Ewan Cherry/Getty))
Following Team LGBTQ+’s success at the Winter Olympics, we look forward to more medals from queer stars at the 2026 Winter Paralympics.
At the Milan Olympics, LGBTQ+ team members won a record 11 medals across multiple sports. Additionally, many stars have established themselves as fan favorites, from Amber Glenn to Gus Kenworthy.
The 14th Winter Paralympic Games will be hosted by Milan-Cortina, Italy and will be held at multiple venues from March 6th to 15th.
More than 600 athletes from 56 countries participated, including several LGBTQ+ stars. Here are some of the LGBTQ+ athletes whose teams you should root for.
jake adikoff
Jake Adikoff, a gay Paralympic cross-country skier, is a notable athlete who has won four Paralympic medals. The 30-year-old American competed in the 2014 and 2018 Games, winning three silver medals and one gold medal.
Adikoff is an openly gay athlete who has been involved in advocating for LGBTQ+ athletes, including working with the Out Athletes Fund.
Adikov has been visually impaired since birth and is considered one of the best visually impaired skiers in the world.
talk to out sports Ahead of the Paralympic Games, Adikov said: “We as para-athletes have a very important role in showcasing our abilities and showing that there is such a high level of sport that can be achieved.
“I think the same thing really needs to happen for queer people in sports,” he added.
Joe Butterfield
Joe Butterfield, a member of Team LGBTQ+ and Team GB, has an extensive Paralympic background.
Butterfield competed in club competition and discus at the Paralympics. At the 2016 Olympics, he set a world record and won a gold medal in the club throwing event. However, in 2022, she switched to wheelchair curling.
At the Milan Games, Butterfield will compete in mixed doubles wheelchair curling. On Thursday (March 5), Butterfield and Jason Keane earned their first win with a 6-5 victory over Latvia. They also needed a win after losing to the world’s No. 1 team, South Korea, on Wednesday (March 4).
“Ever since I first became a Paralympian, I’ve had a dream to push the limits and see what’s possible,” Butterfield said. BBC. Butterfield was left paralyzed after undergoing surgery to remove a tumor from his spine.
“Having the opportunity to aim for gold at both the Summer and Winter Paralympics is something I am extremely proud of.”
michael oherne
Another representative of Team USA is Michael O’Hearn, who takes to the slopes in alpine ski racing.
Born with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, O’Hearn started learning to ski at the age of three. This year’s Paralympics will be his debut in the men’s standing alpine competition, and his first competition.
O’Hearn will compete in the slalom competition, and he’s clearly up for the challenge. Post Instagram Regarding the news of her qualification for the Paralympics, O’Hearn wrote, “Ski racing is my purpose. It’s my sanctuary and my happy place. It’s my anatomical freedom. Ski racing is my purpose. It’s my sanctuary and my happy place. It’s my anatomical freedom.”
“Introspection, calm, breathing and adrenaline all in the same beat. I have worked tirelessly to reach this milestone and it is completely unrealistic.
He added: “I’m very proud. I’ve given everything to this sport and in return this sport has given me everything.”
2026 Winter Paralympic Events
The Winter Paralympic Games will feature six sports over 10 days. These sports include para alpine skiing, wheelchair curling, para snowboarding, para biathlon, para cross-country skiing, and para ice hockey.
The six sports are divided into categories, for a total of 79 events. For example, alpine skiing includes five different events: slalom, giant slalom, super-G, downhill, and super-combined.
In the UK, you can watch the 2026 Winter Paralympics on Channel 4. The live coverage will be available to stream on Channel 4 as well as on Channel 4 Sport YouTube.
In addition, the station will air a 30-minute recap each night from 6:30 p.m.
Source: PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news – www.thepinknews.com
