Paralympic Medal Return: Russia Claims First Winter Podium Finish in 12 Years
Russia celebrated a major Paralympic medal return on Saturday in Cortina d’Ampezzo. Two athletes secured bronze medals in downhill standing events. Varvara Voronchikhina earned bronze in the women’s race. Soon after, Aleksei Bugaev finished third in the men’s event. The moment marked Russia’s first Winter Paralympic medals since 2014. As a result, the achievement carried deep emotion for the team.
Voronchikhina, 23, spoke proudly after the race. She said the medal meant a lot to both her and her teammates. For us, it has been a long time without our flag,” she explained. “I feel proud and very happy today.”
However, the decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes sparked debate. The International Paralympic Committee permitted a limited number of competitors. Six Russian athletes and four from Belarus entered the Games. In addition, they competed under their national flags instead of neutral status. Because of this decision, several nations protested. For example, seven countries boycotted the opening ceremony on Friday.
Athletes Overcome Setbacks
Voronchikhina’s journey to the podium was not easy. She had prepared for the 2022 Games in Beijing before officials suspended Russia. At the time, she had already trained for the downhill race. However, the team had to leave before the competition began.
Therefore, the bronze medal in Cortina felt especially meaningful. It marked her first Paralympic podium finish. Later that day, Aleksei Bugaev added another medal for Russia. The experienced skier claimed bronze in the men’s downhill standing race. Bugaev now holds eight Paralympic medals in his career. He described the latest achievement as one of the toughest to win. “It was a difficult medal,” he said. “But I am happy to represent my country again.”
During the medal ceremony, spectators offered polite applause. Meanwhile, a few supporters waved Russian flags in the stands. For the athletes, the moment symbolized persistence. After years of restrictions, they finally stood on the Winter Paralympic podium again.
