Park City's Paralympic Leverage

Cortina d’Ampezzo prepares to host the 2026 Winter Paralympics, but the true logistical heartbeat resides 5,000 miles away in Park City. The concentration of organizations—the National Ability Center, U.S. Ski & Snowboard, U.S. Biathlon, Sisters in Sports—creates a training ecosystem unlike any other in the country. Five-time Paralympic gold medalist Chris Waddell’s presence on the NBC broadcast team signifies this established pipeline. Sailor O’Brien, a Stifel U.S. Para Alpine Ski Team member and product of Picabo Street Academy, exemplifies the athlete emerging from that system. Oksana Masters, the most decorated U.S. Winter Paralympian with 14 medals, continues her preparation, reflecting a veteran’s commitment. Multiple athletes—Hailey Griffin, Noah Bury, Andrew Haraghey, Tyler McKenzie, Michael O’Hearn, Matthew Brewer, Blake Eaton, Robert Enigl, Brenna Huckaby, Kate Delson, Jackie Hamwey, Keith Gabel, and Kendal Gretch—trace their development back to Park City or the broader Utah network. Even Laurie Stephens, a veteran competing in her sixth Games, acknowledges a prior connection to the Salt Lake 2002 Games. The Unger Family's donations underscore the financial support sustaining this infrastructure. While Para bobsled, skeleton, and luge still seek full Paralympic inclusion, their origins lie within these Park City partnerships. The integration of Olympic and Paralympic planning, first seen at Salt Lake 2002, continues to define the American approach. Statement win.