In less than a week, the world’s elite adaptive athletes will meet in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, for the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games. From Friday March 6 to Sunday March 15, athletes will display incredible feats of strength, endurance, and skill.

Among the competitors this winter will be plenty of people from Minnesota. As you get ready for the games, here is a look at three Minnesota athletes hoping to take the podium.

A Celebration of Ability

The 2026 Paralympic Winter Games promise to be a spectacular showcase of winter athleticism. Access Press encourages our readers to tune in, cheer loud, and support our hometown athletes. Go Team USA!

The Veteran: Aaron Pike

For Park Rapids native Aaron Pike, the road to Milano Cortina is familiar territory. Pike is a six-time Paralympian who competes year-round, transitioning between wheelchair racing in the summer and para-Nordic skiing and biathlon in the winter. His experience will be an asset as he looks to add to his accolades in Italy.

The Newcomer: Liam Cunningham

At the other end of the spectrum is Liam Cunningham, a young sled hockey player making his Paralympic debut. At seventeen-years-old, he’s the youngest Paralympian at the 2026 Games. He is currently a student at Saint Thomas Academy and a member of the Minnesota Wild Sled Hockey Team.

The Stone Thrower: Oyuna Uranchimeg

Returning for her second Paralympic appearance is Burnsville resident Oyuna Uranchimeg. She has been named to the Team USA Wheelchair Mixed Curling team, a testament to her strategic mind and precise touch on the ice.

Uranchimeg is a graduate of Hamline University and hopes to earn gold in the sport that many describe as, “chess on ice.”