Russian skier Varvara Voronchikhina has delivered a standout performance on Monday to win the women’s super-G standing event at the Winter Paralympics in Cortina, securing a historic gold medal for Russia.
The 23-year-old athlete finished 1.96 seconds ahead of France’s Aurelie Richard, who claimed silver in the race.
The victory marks Russia’s first Winter Paralympic gold medal under its national flag since 2014.
Despite the ongoing war with Ukraine, the International Paralympic Committee permitted a limited number of athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete at the Games while representing their countries and flying their national flags instead of competing as neutral athletes.
Voronchikhina had earlier opened Russia’s medal account in the competition by claiming bronze in the downhill event on Saturday — the country’s first Winter Paralympic podium finish in 12 years.
Russia had been barred from the 2018 Winter Paralympics over a doping scandal, though some competitors were allowed to participate under neutral colours.
Athletes from Russia and Belarus were also excluded from the 2022 Winter Paralympics following the invasion of Ukraine. However, they were later permitted to compete as neutral athletes at the 2024 Summer Paralympics.
Reflecting on the earlier disappointment of missing the previous Winter Games, Voronchikhina said after winning bronze in the downhill that the experience had been difficult.
“For me it was really, really sad and I hope in these Games I will be better and it will be,” she said, recalling how she had been in Beijing preparing to compete before Russia was suspended by the IPC.
