Cai claims first gold for China

Chinese Paralympic skier Cai Jiayun is known for two things: a wide, boyish grin that carries him through the grind of training, and a quick temper that once threatened to trip him up in biathlon — a sport demanding both physical grit and mental stillness.

Since taking up winter sports in 2016, the 26-year-old from the remote mountains of Yunnan province in southwestern China has relied on optimism and tenacity to overcome punishing falls, biting cold and the profound loneliness of being separated from his family.

To tame his impatience, Cai said the team provided a psychologist. He also developed a mental routine of telling himself to forget everything else and just fight like a warrior on the trail.

The approach paid off Saturday, when he secured China's first gold medal of the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Paralympics, winning the men's 7.5-kilometer para biathlon in the sprint standing category.

Under clear blue skies at the Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium in Val di Fiemme, he finished in 17 minutes 13.6 seconds, crossing the line 21.8 seconds ahead of his teammate Liu Xiaobin, who took silver.

Despite a modest start on the skis, Cai hit all five targets in the first shooting round, vaulting into first place. He maintained the lead, holding steady through the remaining skiing and producing a clean second shot.

"I've never won a gold medal in an international competition. I've won too many silvers and this is a perfect conclusion to my career," he said, recalling his haul of two silvers and one bronze — but no gold — at Beijing 2022.

Cai lost his left forearm in a childhood accident. He was introduced to winter sports after being selected by the Yunnan Disabled Persons' Federation.

"I fell in love with the sport immediately. I was thrilled when I saw the deep, pristine white snow, and I made up my mind that I had to master it," he said.

Cai trains in both cross-country skiing and biathlon. Life as an athlete means long stretches away from his parents and girlfriend.

Wearing a big smile for most of the post-race interview, he could not help tearing up as he thanked his parents for their unwavering understanding and support.

"When I crossed the finishing line, I immediately thought about my parents miles away in Yunnan," he said.

"I know they always have confidence in me, whether or not I top the podium. But at this moment, I wanted to show them that I have finally lived up to their high expectations."

China's Paralympic skiers made a brilliant start to the Games on Saturday, claiming a total of six medals on the first full day of competition.

Less than an hour after Cai celebrated his victory draped in the national flag, Chinese para skier Wang Yue claimed the country's second gold on the same snow in the women's 7.5 km sprint biathlon for the visually impaired.

Wang clocked 19:52.5. Despite one miss in the second shooting round, she edged out silver medalist Carina Edlingerova of the Czech Republic by 28 seconds.

Earlier Saturday, para skier Liu Mengtao secured silver in the men's sprint sitting event, while defending champion Liu Zixu took bronze.

The first medal for the Chinese delegation came Saturday morning, when para skier Liu Sitong, finished third in the women's downhill sitting event at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre in Cortina.

During the Games, which run through March 15, a total of 611 para athletes from 55 National Paralympic Committees will compete in 79 events across six sports.

The Chinese delegation includes 167 members, with 70 athletes — a record number for an overseas Winter Paralympics.

At the opening ceremony, held Friday in an ancient Roman arena in Verona, the message of human resilience, inclusion and solidarity was emphasized during the two-hour show.

"Paralympians are ready to redefine possibility, push the boundaries of human ability and show what humans can achieve when respected and provided with chances to succeed," said International Paralympic Committee president Andrew Parsons.

"In the coming days, a record number of athletes and nations will showcase the very best of Paralympic winter sports.

"Through their exceptional sporting performances, Paralympians will remind the world that disability is not itself a limitation, but an incredible dimension of human diversity," he added.

Cai said he also wanted to showcase the power of sport for people with disabilities.

"In the past, I struggled with self-esteem issues because of my disability," he said.

"Participating in sport has enabled me, in recent years, to gain a fresh perspective, become more confident and mentally healthier."