12 years later: the anthem of the Russian Federation was played in honor of Voronchikhina's victory at the Paralympics

Russian athletes won three medals in the first three days of competition at the 2026 Paralympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. The main character was the alpine skier Varvara Voronchikhina. First, a native of the Irkutsk region won bronze in the downhill, and on March 9 she became the first in the supergiant. The Russian national anthem was played at the alpine skier's award ceremony for the first time since 2014. Alexey Bugaev, the most decorated athlete of our small delegation, took another bronze medal in the downhill.

Voronchikhina dedicated her victory at the Paralympics to her grandfather

Varvara Voronchikhina, 23, was one of the world leaders in her discipline before the introduction of extensive sanctions against Russian athletes. She has won three gold and four silver medals at the 2021/22 World Cup. Then she became the winner of the KM in giant slalom and the silver medalist of the prestigious start — Veysonnaz World Para Alpine Skiing Downhill. Voronchikhina was considered one of the favorites of the 2022 Games, but our team was not allowed to Beijing because of anti-Russian sanctions (although at that time it had already settled in the village).

The Russian woman did not get into Pyeongchang 2018 because of her age (she was 15 years old, and according to the rules she should be at least 16), so the 2026 Games became her debut. In Italy, Varvara was announced in five disciplines at once, and in two of them she has already managed to take medals.

On Saturday, March 7, a Russian woman became the third in the downhill discipline among women standing up. Only Sweden's Ebba Orcher and France's Aurelie Richard showed the best time. After the award ceremony, Voronchikhina admitted that she still couldn't believe her success, but two days later she was able to win the gold medal.

The Russian became the best in the LW6/8 class. In the standing category, she scored a score of 1 minute 15.6 seconds. Besides her, Frenchwoman Aurelie Richard (+1.96 seconds) and Ebba Orcher from Sweden (+2.04) were in the top three. And this is despite the fact that Voronchikhina started ahead of her main rivals, as she has almost no international rating (international status was obtained only this season). Varvara dedicated the victory to her grandfather and the whole country.

"Unfortunately, he couldn't wait to see the gold of the Games. I was hoping to do it earlier, in Beijing. I dedicate the medal to our whole country," TASS quoted her as saying.

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Alexey Bugaev and our other award-winning athletes will perform in Italy with national symbols.

In honor of this success, the Russian national anthem was played at the Paralympic Games for the first time since 2014. Let us remind you that for the first time in 12 years, our Paralympians had the opportunity to perform with a flag and an anthem. And twice since 2014, our athletes have missed the Games altogether: in 2016 because of the doping scandal, and in 2022 because of the suspension.

In other cases, the Russians arrived in a truncated train and in a neutral status. However, in the fall of 2025, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) lifted sanctions and reinstated the membership of the Russian Paralympic Committee (RPC). This good news was superimposed on the unwillingness of the federations to allow Russians to qualify for the Games in Italy, so now only six athletes who have received special quotas are competing.

"We are proud that justice has prevailed and our Paralympians go to the ceremony with the national flag and hear the Russian national anthem on the podium," Oleg Matytsin, chairman of the State Duma Committee on Physical Culture and Sports, told Izvestia. — This is already a victory for Russia and the Paralympic Committee and the recognition of the international committee of our Paralympic movement. It is ok.

Matytsin noted: unfortunately, we began to perceive this as a miracle and rejoice at it, but nevertheless, we also need to fight for a miracle.

— We are very proud of our guys and we are grateful to the IPC, which, despite attempts by some countries to boycott the opening ceremony and continue sanctions, they have taken a firm, principled position. If we want to preserve international sport and the basic principles, this position must always be there," he stressed.

Bugaev showed the fourth result in the supergiant

In addition to Voronchikhina, three more Russian athletes performed in Italy. Dmitry Fadeev and Monzer Philippe Shebbo failed to reach the semifinals in snowboard cross. In their quarterfinal races, Fadeev and Shebbo took third and fourth places, respectively (leaving the top 2). They competed in the SB-LL1 category (athletes with significant damage to one leg).

But the alpine skier Alexey Bugaev was able to replenish his collection of medals. A native of Krasnoyarsk, he is one of the most decorated Russian athletes with disabilities. Bugaev is a three—time champion, three-time silver medalist and now a two-time bronze medalist at the Paralympic Games.

In the downhill at the 2026 Games, our athlete showed a result of 1 minute 18.94 seconds. He was beaten only by Swiss Robin Kuche (1 minute 17.79 seconds) and Frenchman Arthur Bosch (1 minute 18.40 seconds).

"It's a difficult medal, one of the most difficult in my career," Alexey Bugaev told TASS. "If we compare it with my first Games in Sochi (where Bugaev won five medals at once), I was probably still a child, a teenager, and many things were given to me against the background of youth, excitement, and love for this business."

Now, according to him, it has become more difficult — he has matured, and life has changed, and circumstances are constantly changing. "But I am very glad that I can represent my country again," he added.

—Gold and two bronze medals are a good start for our national team," Nikolai Valuev, a State Duma deputy and former world boxing champion, told Izvestia. — I'm really excited about the guys' performance. The Paralympians were the first to lose everything. It is wonderful that they are now performing with a flag and an anthem — for them it is a gift, and for all Russians it is the restoration of justice. God grant everyone to perform with dignity. I am sure that everyone is trying their best.

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On March 9, Bugaev became the fourth in the supergiant. He lost 1.99 seconds to Swiss Robin Kuche, the winner of the tournament. American Patrick Halgren took silver (+0.98), Frenchman Jules Seger took bronze (+1.47). In the coming days, Russia will be represented in cross-country skiing by Ivan Golubkov (nine-time World Cup winner, six-time world champion) and Anastasia Bagiyan (three-time Russian champion).