About Para Nordic Skiing

Paralympic Nordic skiing includes both cross-country skiing events and the biathlon discipline. Cross-country races range from 800m head-to-head sprints to 20km, depending on class and gender. Biathlon combines elements of cross-country skiing and rifle marksmanship.

Paralympic Nordic skiing competition is open to male and female athletes with physical disabilities such as amputation/limb loss, blindness/visual impairment, spinal cord injury/wheelchair-users, and cerebral palsy/brain injury/stroke.

Cross-country skiing first appeared at the 1976 Winter Paralympic Games in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. The competition is open to athletes with a physical impairment and blindness/vision impairment. Men and women used the classical technique in all cross-country distances until skating was introduced by athletes at the Innsbruck 1984 Paralympic Winter Games. Since then, events have been split into two separate races: classical and free technique. The new technique, however, was not officially used in a medal race until 1992 in Albertville, France.

Depending on functional impairment, a competitor may use a sit-ski, a seat and frame mounted to skis through a binding system. 

Athletes with vision impairment compete with sighted guides.

Athletes compete in short distance, middle distance and long distance (ranging from 800m to 20km).

Para cross-country skiing is governed by FIS. 

Biathlon was introduced in Innsbruck in 1988 for athletes with a physical impairment, and in 1992, athletes with a vision impairment also became eligible to compete. Biathlon race distances range from 6-15 km. 

Athletes ski three or five loops, depending on the race, stopping after each loop for a shooting stage. Each shooting stage consists of 5 shots on a 13mm target, from the prone position. For each missed shot, the athlete either skis a penalty lap or has one minute added to their final time, depending on the race format.

Standing and sitting athletes shoot 177 air rifles at a distance of 10 meters. Athletes with vision impairment are assisted by acoustic signals, which depending on signal intensity, indicate whether the athlete is on target. Para biathletes do no carry their rifles during the skiing stage, but receive them in the biathlon range. 

Para biathlon is governed jointly by FIS and IBU.

1976 - Örnsköldsvik, Sweden

1980 - Geilo, Norway

1984 - Innsbruck, Austria

1988 - Innsbruck, Austria

1992 - Tignes - Albertville, France

1994 - Lillehammer, Norway

1998 - Nagano, Japan

2002 - Salt Lake City, United States

2006 - Turin, Italy

2010 - Vancouver, Canada

2014 - Sochi, Russia

2018 - Pyeongchang, South Korea

2022 - Beijing, China

2026 - Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy

• Alpine Skiing
• Nordic Skiing (Biathlon and Cross-country skiing)
• Sled Hockey
• Snowboarding
• Wheelchair Curling

Year - Host City - Total Medals - Gold, Silver, Bronze

2022 - Beijing, China - 20 - 6 gold, 11 silver, 3 bronze

2018 - Pyeongchang, South Korea - 36 - 13 gold, 15 silver, 8 bronze

2014 - Sochi, Russia - 18 - 2 gold, 7 silver, 9 bronze

2010 - Vancouver, Canada - 13 - 4 gold, 5 silver, 4 bronze

2006 - Turin, Italy - 12 - 7 gold, 2 silver, 3 bronze

2002 - Salt Lake City, United States - 43 - 10 gold, 22 silver, 11 bronze

1998 - Nagano, Japan - 34 - 13 gold, 8 silver, 13 bronze

1994 - Lillehammer, Norway - 43 - 24 gold, 12 silver, 7 bronze

1992 - Tignes - Albertville, France - 45 - 20 gold, 16 silver, 9 bronze

1988 - Innsbruck, Austria - 30 - 7 gold, 17 silver, 6 bronze

1984 - Innsbruck, Austria - 35 - 7 gold, 14 silver, 14 bronze

1980 - Geilo, Norway - 6 - 4 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze

1976 - Örnsköldsvik, Sweden - 0

Year - Host City - Total Medals - Gold, Silver, Bronze

2022 - Beijing, China - 14 - 4 gold, 8 silver, 2 bronze

2018 - Pyeongchang, South Korea - 16 - 6 gold, 7 silver, 3 bronze

2014 - Sochi, Russia - 3 - 2 silver, 1 bronze

2010 - Vancouver, Canada - 1 - 1 bronze*

2006 - Turin, Italy - 3 - 2 gold, 1 bronze

2002 - Salt Lake City, United States - 5 - 5 silver

1998 - Nagano, Japan - 2 - 2 bronze

1994 - Lillehammer, Norway - 4 - 3 silver, 1 bronze

1992 - Tignes - Albertville, France - 3 - 2 gold, 1 bronze

1988 - Innsbruck, Austria - 2 - 1 gold, 1 bronze**

1984 - Innsbruck, Austria - 1 - 1 silver

1980 - Geilo, Norway - 0

1976 - Örnsköldsvik, Sweden - 0

* First Team USA biathlon medal

** Biathlon added at Innsbruck 1988 Paralympic Winter Games