Para Cross-country Skiing

Para cross-country skiing, also known as Nordic skiing, made its first appearance at the 1976 Winter Paralympic Games in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. The competition is open to athletes with physical disabilities in the upper and lower limbs (standing) and lower limbs and trunk (sit-ski), as well as individuals with visual impairments.

Men and women used the classic technique in all cross-country distances until the introduction of skate skiing by athletes at the 1984 Winter Paralympic Games in Innsbruck. Since then, events have been divided into two separate races: classic technique and freestyle. However, the new technique was not officially used in a medal race until 1992 in Albertville, France.

This sport first appeared at the Örnsköldsvik 1976 Winter Paralympic Games in Sweden. Athletes used the classic technique in all long distance races until the introduction of the skate skiing technique in Innsbruck in 1984. Since then, the events have been divided into two separate specialties: classic technique and freestyle. It was only at the Albertville Paralympics in 1992 that the freestyle technique was officially used in a medal race.

Depending on the disability, skiers may use a sit-ski, which consists of a chair equipped with a pair of skis. Athletes with visual disabilities participate in the event with a seeing guide. Standing skiers use conventional cross-country skis, made of fibreglass composite materials. Both use poles to propel themselves if they are able to.

The first Italian victory in Para cross-country skiing came in Innsbruck 1988 thanks to Paolo Lorenzini. He won the long distance race (30 km) and placed third in the medium distance race (15 km) and the 4x10 km relay.

At the next Paralympic Games in Albertville 1992, Dorothea Agetle won the first medals for Italian female athletes, with bronze medals in the 5 and 2.5 km races. She continued her success at Lillehammer 1994, winning two more bronze medals and a silver in the 10 km, which she also won again in Nagano 1998.

At Salt Lake City 2002, Italy discovered the talent of Roland Ruepp, who had already won silver in the 10 km in Nagano in 1998. This cross-country skier from South Tyrol made history by winning gold medals in both the 5 and 10 km races. Then at Vancouver 2010 it was Francesca Porcellato’s turn. She had previously made her mark in Paralympic athletics at the Summer Paralympic Games, but triumphed in cross-country skiing with an unforgettable gold in the 1 km sprint classic technique.

Finally, Giuseppe Romele, who carried hopes for the para cross-country skiing movement, won a bronze medal in the 10 km sit-ski race in Beijing 2022.