(AGENPARL) - Roma, 20 Marzo 2026 -

The Games took place in Italy from
March 6 to 15, 2026. The Russian team, comprising six athletes and one sighted
guide, competed in three disciplines – cross-country skiing, alpine skiing, and snowboarding – and won a total of 12 medals: eight gold, one silver, and three
bronze, securing third place in the overall team standings.

* * *

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, friends,

I am truly delighted to congratulate
you – our national Russian team – on an extraordinary performance at the 14th
Winter Paralympics.

You did more than just achieve
exceptional results. Many would agree that your participation in the Games marked
one of the most remarkable chapters in the history of Paralympic sport.
Competing against some of the world’s best athletes, you won 12 medals and secured a top-three finish – all with a team of just six athletes and one
guide. By comparison, the teams that placed first and second were more than ten
times the size of ours.

You have shown both Russia and the world what it truly means to fulfil the lofty mission of a Paralympic athlete.
That mission – and its well-known slogan – is “to inspire and excite the world.” And that is exactly what you did. Millions were captivated by your
performances, inspired by your determination, resilience, and will to win.

You also brought the most powerful,
heartfelt emotions to Russian fans, giving them genuine reasons to cheer and celebrate your achievements. For the first time in 12 years, we saw our beloved
Russian flag raised above the Paralympic podium and heard our national anthem
with a special sense of pride and emotion – thanks to you. You have made the return of Russia’s key national symbols to the international stage truly
triumphant, without exaggeration.

Skier
Anastasia Bagiyan demonstrated outstanding performance. Together with her
guide, Sergei Sinyakin, you left no chance to your competitors and ascended to the top step of the podium three times.

Varvara
Voronchikhina displayed exceptional skill. The youngest member of our team, she
opened the tally of victories for the Russian national team at the Games,
securing medals in every discipline she competed in. Two golds, a silver, and a bronze in alpine skiing – this is simply splendid, a magnificent debut.

The Games
were also triumphant for Ivan Golubkov – he twice proved his undisputed
leadership in sit-ski races. We all know that Ivan has publicly declared that
these victories are dedicated to Russia, to his country.

The most
experienced athlete on our team, alpine skier Alexei Bugayev, brought a fitting
conclusion to our team’s performance. By claiming two bronzes and the long-awaited gold medal, he propelled our team to what seemed an impossible
third place in the overall standings.

Friends,

Your
energy, focus on results, self-belief, and relentless training have led to a significant and meaningful success – both personal and on the scale of our vast
country. Your performances and victories, your journey to success – these are a shining example of how one can and must overcome any life circumstances, always
maintaining dignity and optimism, resilience and composure, and remaining true
to one’s principles, traditions, and convictions.

Special
words of gratitude go to those who have guided you towards victory for many
years – your coaches. Under pressure and restrictions, and without adequate
competitive practice, they have upheld the highest standards of the national
coaching school, the very foundation of our Fatherland’s numerous sporting
achievements, of its glorious history, which has been and will continue to be
shaped by heroes like you.

Once again,
I congratulate everyone on the outstanding success at the recent Paralympic
Games. Thank you for your perseverance, hard work, and mastery.

Allow me to wish you further victories.

<…>

(AGENPARL)