Article by David Istrate – Published Monday, 09 March 2026, 12:10 / Updated on Monday, 09 March 2026 12:12
Russia's national anthem was sung at the Paralympics for the first time in 10 years after Paralympic skier Varvara Voronchikhina, 23, won the gold medal on Monday.
Russia's national anthem has never been heard at any Olympic or Paralympic Games in honor of a gold medalist at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Games.
These Games mark the first appearance of the Russian flag at a Paralympic Games since the country hosted the event in Sochi 12 years ago. Russia and its athletes were banned following the state-sponsored doping scandal, then after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Voronchikhina finished first in the women's standing super-G competition. “It's a really special moment for me, I can see my flag on the top step of the podium. Maybe now I can't believe it and I don't understand what happened. Maybe I'll realize when I see the gold medal… it's so special for me. It's amazing. I have a huge support from my family, friends and all the people in Russia,” said Voronchikhina.
Although she is participating in her first Paralympic Games, Voronchikhina is a two-time world champion, including in the Super-G event, titles won in 2021, and has further chances to win medals, according to the BBC.
Russia won its first medals in 12 years at the Paralympic Winter Games on Saturday, March 7. Varvara Voronchikhina and Aleksei Bugaev won bronze medals in downhill skiing.
Ahead of the start of the Milan-Cortina edition, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) announced that it would allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to parade and compete with national flags, a decision that inflamed spirits and caused a wave of reaction. 7 countries (Ukraine, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland) boycotted the opening ceremony in Verona, but this did not change the leaders of the CIP, and 6 Russian athletes are present at the Winter Paralympic Games.
