Milan, Italy – The Czech Paralympic team experienced a day of highs and lows at the 2026 Winter Paralympics in Milan Cortina, with the para ice hockey team falling to Canada and Simona Bubeníčková facing heartbreak in the biathlon sprint. Despite the setbacks, Czech athletes continue to demonstrate resilience and determination on the world stage.
The Czech para ice hockey team suffered a 4-1 defeat to Canada in their final Group B match. Patrik Sedláček, the Czech goaltender, delivered a strong performance for two periods, but was ultimately overcome by the Canadian attack. James Dunn opened the scoring for Canada in the 5th minute of the second period. Zdeněk Hábl managed to net a goal for the Czechs in the 34th minute, marking his first of the tournament, but Canada responded with a late goal into an empty net during a Czech power play to seal the victory. Canada finished the group stage with a perfect record, outscoring opponents 26-1 and will face China in the semifinals. The Czech team, having previously defeated Japan 3-2 and Slovakia 8-1, will now face the defending champions, the United States, in the semifinals. This marks the Czech team’s first appearance in the Paralympic semifinals after securing three bronze medals at previous World Championships.
For Bubeníčková, the sprint race proved to be a devastating disappointment. After a successful weekend in the biathlon endurance event, the 17-year-old visually impaired athlete was a contender for a medal. However, a fall during the downhill portion of the race dashed her hopes. “I was skiing well. We still had a lead on the hill… Then we just started the downhill and the finish straight, and I just fell… It was my mistake, and I’d almost shoot myself,” Bubeníčková said, reflecting on the incident. She described losing control at speed, struggling to regain her bearings, and briefly losing contact with her guide, David Šrůtek. “It was quite fast. I fell on my stomach and kept going, and I couldn’t stop at all. David couldn’t stop quickly either, so he got quite far away, and when I got up, I could barely hear him. So, for a moment, I wasn’t skiing at full speed given that I wasn’t sure where I was going. Then I started to hear him a little more. Then girls started rushing past us, and a Chinese athlete kind of bumped into me.”
The fall allowed Germany’s Leonie Maria Walter and China’s Chung Ji-chung to overtake Bubeníčková and secure the qualifying spots for the final. Bubeníčková finished fifth one position better than her result in the biathlon sprint earlier in the Games. Despite the setback, she remains determined. “Maybe the anger from today will drive me,” she stated, looking ahead to Wednesday’s 10km classic race with an interval start.
In alpine skiing, Tadeáš Kříž achieved a ninth-place finish in the standing combined event. Competing alongside his sister, Iva, Kříž also secured ninth place in both the super-G and slalom portions of the competition. This follows his tenth-place finish in Monday’s super-G and sixth-place finish in Saturday’s downhill. Petr Drahoš finished 15th in the sitting combined event.
The Czech team’s performance at the Milan Cortina Paralympics has been marked by both promising results and unfortunate setbacks. The para ice hockey team’s advancement to the semifinals represents a significant milestone, even as individual athletes like Bubeníčková and Kříž continue to showcase their talent and resilience. The Games are providing a platform for these athletes to compete at the highest level and inspire audiences worldwide.
The Czech Paralympic Committee is providing ongoing updates and support to its athletes throughout the Games. Fans can follow the team’s progress and find more information on the official Paralympic website.
Next up, Simona Bubeníčková will compete in the women’s 10km classic cross-country ski race on Wednesday, seeking to rebound from her sprint disappointment. The para ice hockey team will face a formidable challenge against the United States in the semifinals on Friday.
