The 2026 Winter Paralympics kicked off on March 6 and two nations have taken an early medal lead while the USA fell behind.

The medal count is now at 22 for Oksana Masters, the most decorated American Winter Paralympian. Masters won the Para cross-country 10km interval start sitting race on Wednesday for her third gold in four events at the Milan Cortina Games.

Keep track of which U.S. Paralympic athletes have won medals at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Paralympics Games.

Oksana Masters wins her third gold medal at the Milan Cortina Games, raising her total Paralympic medals to 22, while fellow athlete Sydney Peterson secures her first individual gold.

Hundreds of para athletes are competing in Italy through March 15. Many Americans are defending past titles, with the U.S. sled hockey team hoping to fend off rival Canada for its fifth straight gold.

"We're on the same playing level now as the able-bodied athletes, and that has not always been the case," wheelchair curler Steve Emt said.

Palmer’s Andrew Kurka added to his career medal count on Monday, taking the bronze in the super-G at the 2026 Winter Paralympics in Cortina, Italy. With the bronze, Kurka has now earned one of each variety in his career: adding the bronze to his gold and silver from the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games in South Koreaa.

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — The International Paralympic Committee is celebrating the biggest ever Paralympic Winter Games in history and a record female participation at Milan Cortina. The Games will officially kick off on Friday with an opening ceremony that is set to be boycotted by some nations because of the return of the Russian flag and national anthem to the global stage.

The 2026 Winter Paralympics are underway. Here's a look at the full schedule for every event with Milan and Cortina as hosts, including how to watch.