Triumphant and bright: the Paralympians were awarded state awards for success in Italy

On March 19, Vladimir Putin awarded the Russian Paralympic national team, which went to the Games with only six people, but took third place in the overall medal standings. The coaches appealed to the president with a request to help develop Paralympic sports in the regions, and the winners themselves told about their impressions: for the first time in 12 years they performed at major international competitions under the Russian flag, and heard the anthem at the award ceremony. National symbols are gradually returning to international competitions: Russia can also compete under its own flag at the 2026 Youth Olympics in Dakar and the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles, Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev told Izvestia.

How the Russian champions were awarded

At the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games in Italy, the Russian national team took third place in the overall medal standings, winning eight gold, one silver and three bronze medals. Surprisingly, only six Russian athletes were able to achieve this result, while 70 and 68 Paralympians competed for China and the United States, which took the first two places. The reason for the truncated squad is bureaucratic delays and selection difficulties faced by Russian athletes in the face of sanctions.

The incredible achievements of the Paralympians were immediately celebrated at the highest level. On March 19, they were invited to the Kremlin to receive state awards. The ceremony took place in the magnificent Catherine Hall with a white and blue dome and imperial golden coats of arms. The warm spring sun shone through the thick curtains from the windows, illuminating the medals of the athletes who were sitting in the front rows. Vladimir Putin opened the event and began his speech by congratulating the champions and their coaches.

— You have clearly demonstrated to Russia and the whole world who truly corresponds to the lofty mission of a Paralympic athlete. And the mission and slogan are well known to everyone — "inspire and delight the world." That's exactly what you did," the head of state said.

Anastasia Bagiyan, a Russian skier, was awarded the first Order of Friendship. At the age of 15, she lost her eyesight, but after overcoming all the difficulties, two years later she began skiing at the adaptive sports school of the Olympic reserve. The result is three gold medals and an award from the hands of the Russian president. In her speech, a little nervously, she thanked him, the national team and everyone who supported our athletes at the competitions.

Skier Alexey Bugaev, who followed her, brought gold and two bronze medals to the total piggy bank. He recalled that our national team was suspended from participating in the last Paralympics in China, but the athletes did not despair and, thanks to the activity of the Paralympic Committee, they were able to participate in competitions in Italy.

State awards were given not only to athletes, but also to their coaches. Some took the opportunity to address the President with specific proposals. For example, Irina Gromova, the head coach of the Paralympic ski racing team, asked him about a special center for athletes with disabilities.

— Unfortunately, there are huge difficulties with training wheelchair athletes in our country. We are ready to take on all the possibilities, to bring to the regions, to athletes, to the disabled, to coaches how to work. We have a lot of children that we attract. I think we will be incredibly happy if we have such a center, with a ski tube," Gromova said.

In his final address, the president promised to take into account all the wishes so that in the future athletes would once again delight Russia with their victories.

The return of the Russian flag and anthem to international sports

The Paralympic Games in Italy were the first in the last 12 years for our national team, where they were able to perform under the Russian flag and hear their national anthem while standing on the podium. The last time this happened was at an international competition in Sochi in 2014. Skier Varvara Voronchikhina was the first to be honored on the podium with an anthem and a flag. She is 23 years old, she is the youngest athlete in the current national team, who has won gold, silver and bronze. Since birth, she has been missing part of her left arm, but this did not prevent her from eventually becoming a champion.

— Honestly, it's very nice that I was able to create history, and for the first time in 12 years we heard the anthem. I'm very glad," she confessed.

Ivan Golubkov, one of the most experienced Russian Paralympians in cross-country skiing in the sitting class, also realized his dream of winning gold under the national anthem at the competitions. He told Izvestia about this, adding that now his other dream has come true — to take a photo with the president.

Russian symbols are gradually returning to international competitions, Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev told Izvestia.

— For example, the Youth Olympic Games will be held in Dakar and Senegal this fall. Our Olympic youth team will go there. There are funds, equipment, and a team is already being formed. The anthem for young men will already be played there," the minister said.

"We are waiting," he briefly replied to the question of whether the Russian national team can expect to perform with the flag and anthem at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

Alpine skier Alexey Bugaev said in his closing remarks that the national team has every opportunity to prepare for the upcoming Winter Paralympic Games in 2030 in France and perform well there in full strength.