MILAN CORTINA, Italy – Italy’s Jacopo Luchini has added to the nation’s medal haul at the Winter Paralympics in Milan Cortina, securing gold in the snowboard banked slalom event on Wednesday. The victory marks a significant moment for the Italian team, bringing their total medal count to 11 and setting a new record for gold medals won at a Winter Paralympic Games.
Luchini, 35, navigated the course at Socrepes with a winning time of 56.28 seconds, besting China’s Wang Pengyao (56.62) and Jiang Zihao (57.03) to claim the top spot on the podium. Fellow Italian Paolo Priolo finished ninth.
“An gold medal that I truly don’t know how to describe yet. I’m still realizing it, I think I need to hear the anthem first. I’m speechless,” Luchini said immediately after his run, as reported by sources on the ground. “It was an intense day, waiting until the incredibly last to head down and then doing the victory lap. Winning gold in the first competition… there’s nothing better, because now you know you’ve already done it.”
Born in Prato, Tuscany, on October 10, 1990, Luchini was born with aplasia, meaning he was born without his left hand. He transitioned to snowboarding after a background in swimming – where he excelled in backstroke and breaststroke – as well as football and martial arts. His dedication and skill have been steadily recognized on the international stage.
Prior to his Paralympic triumph, Luchini demonstrated his prowess at the 2023 World Championships in La Molina, Spain, where he secured two gold medals in snowboardcross (individual and team events), along with a bronze in the individual banked slalom and a silver in the team dual banked slalom. This strong performance foreshadowed his success in Milan Cortina.
This gold medal represents the fourth victory for Italy at the Milan Cortina Winter Paralympics, establishing a new benchmark for the Italian paralympic team. The nation’s athletes have consistently delivered strong performances across various disciplines, contributing to the impressive medal tally.
The banked slalom event tests athletes’ ability to navigate a course with high, banked turns, requiring precision, speed and control. Luchini’s victory underscores his mastery of this challenging discipline and his unwavering commitment to excellence.
This represents a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
What’s Next: The Paralympic Winter Games Milan Cortina 2026 continue with competitions across multiple sports. Stay tuned to Archysport for ongoing coverage and updates on the Italian team’s performance.
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