The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics begin on March 6, 2026, with the opening ceremony in Verona, Italy. (Some events like wheelchair curling start earlier on March 4.)

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According to reports, 72 U.S. athletes compete in the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics.

One of those competing will be an Alpine Skier from New Jersey who is part of the Team USA Alpine Ski Team 2026.

 

New Jersey native Kelsey O’Driscoll from Caldwell, New Jersey, will be in Italy for Team USA when the games begin this week.

 


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Kelsey O'Driscoll via Instagram

 

In a recent post from New Jersey Monthly, "Caldwell native Kelsey O’Driscoll—an avid athlete who was on skis in her backyard at age two, a surfboard at the Shore at seven, and a running track throughout high school and college—was sledding with family in New York when her sled caught a divot in the icy snow. She lost her grip, sailed through the air, and came crashing down.“I knew instantly my back was broken,” O’Driscoll recalls."

 

In addition, NJ Monthly added, "A pediatric asthma care coordinator, O’Driscoll, only began ski racing in 2024 and was invited to join Team USA this past May. The accelerated trajectory has been extraordinary, especially given her two recent shoulder surgeries and severe asthma—the latter often more debilitating than her spinal injury. She uses inhalers daily and carries an emergency stash while skiing."

 

We want to wish Kelsey and all the Paralympians the best of luck as the games begin this week in Italy.

 

How Can I Watch The 2026 Paralympics In Italy?

Viewers in the U.S. can watch the 2026 Winter Paralympics in Italy on TV through NBC and its family of channels, while most live events, replays, and highlights will also stream on Peacock, making it easy to follow the action from home without missing the biggest moments.

 

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