Warwara Worontschichina Delivers First Russian Paralympic Gold Since 2014

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy – Warwara Worontschichina etched her name into Paralympic history on Monday, securing Russia’s first gold medal at the Winter Paralympics since 2014. The 23-year-old skier triumphed in the women’s Super-G standing class in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, two days after claiming bronze in the downhill event. The victory marked the first time since the 2014 Sochi Games that the Russian flag has been raised and the Russian anthem played at a major international sporting event.

Worontschichina’s achievement arrives amidst ongoing controversy surrounding the participation of Russian athletes in international competitions. Following years of state-sponsored doping scandals and, more recently, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Russian athletes had previously been limited to competing as neutral athletes, stripped of national symbols and anthems. Belarus, a supporter of the invasion of Ukraine, faced similar restrictions.

However, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) reversed course, lifting sanctions against the Russian and Belarusian Paralympic committees last year. This decision, which differed from the approach taken at the Olympic Winter Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo in February, drew criticism from several nations, including the host country, Italy. The IPC’s decision followed a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) that a blanket ban on Russian athletes was not legally justifiable after an appeal from Russia.

Worontschichina completed the Super-G course in a time of 1:15.60, decisively beating a strong field. France’s Aurelie Richard secured the silver medal, finishing 1.96 seconds behind, whereas Sweden’s Ebba Aarsjoe took bronze, 2.04 seconds off the pace. German skier Andrea Rothfuss delivered a strong performance, finishing fourth, just 3.35 seconds behind Worontschichina. Fellow German, Anna-Maria Rieder, finished 11th.

A Controversial Return to the Paralympic Stage

The IPC, under the leadership of Brazilian Andrew Parsons, initially lifted the ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes in September. While several winter sports federations – including those governing Ski and Snowboard, Biathlon, Curling, and Para-Ice Hockey – initially resisted the decision, the CAS ruling ultimately compelled them to comply. The German Disabled Sports Association (DBS) had voiced strong criticism of the decision to allow Russian athletes to compete with full national representation.

The presence of Russian and Belarusian athletes also impacted the opening ceremony of the Games, with only 28 of the 55 participating nations taking part. An IPC spokesperson confirmed that seven national Paralympic committees – from the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine – had chosen to abstain from the Games due to political concerns.

Worontschichina’s victory is particularly poignant given the context. The athlete reportedly wept after her win, a visible display of emotion as the Russian flag was raised and the anthem played for the first time in over a decade at a Paralympic event. The moment was met with applause from the crowd, with some spectators joining in singing the Russian anthem, as reported by Stern.de.

Andrea Rothfuss, the German skier who finished fourth, acknowledged the significance of Worontschichina’s performance, stating, “That is now perhaps a result that none of us wanted with the situation at the moment. But you have to say clearly in sporting terms that Warwara skied the best run today, therefore deserved first place.”

This gold medal builds on Worontschichina’s earlier success at these Paralympics, having secured a bronze medal in the downhill event on Saturday. That bronze marked the first medal for Russia since being readmitted to compete under its own flag, a decision made by the IPC General Assembly last year. Alexej Bugajew added another bronze for Russia in a men’s event shortly after Worontschichina’s initial podium finish.

The Russian team received two of six wildcard entries for the Paralympics. This marks Russia’s return to the Paralympic stage under its own flag for the first time since the 2014 Sochi Games, following a period of exclusion due to doping scandals and, subsequently, the war in Ukraine.

The Paralympics continue in Cortina d’Ampezzo, with athletes competing across a range of winter sports. The focus now shifts to upcoming events and whether Worontschichina’s gold medal will inspire further success for the Russian team.

What’s Next: The Paralympic Winter Games continue through March 13th. Maintain up-to-date with results and schedules on the official Paralympic website: https://www.paralympic.org/