The 2022 Olympic games are over but sports fans still have plenty of winter sporting events to watch over the next two weeks with the 2022 Paralympic Games in Beijing, China.
As a result of events in eastern Europe and the reactions in the Village, the International Paralympic Committee has banned the Russian and Belarusian athletes from the games.
Host country China has gotten off to a roaring start by winning eight medals in day one including two golds. Previously, the Chinese paralympic team had earned a total of one medal in Wheelchair Curling.
After a harrowing past week, the Ukrainian team arrived in Beijing ready to compete. They have earned a total of seven medals in Para Biathlon.
Henrieta Farkasova of Slovakia has not lost a downhill race since 2014 in Sochi. She has not let a visual disability slow her down. On day one of the Beijing games, she has earned her tenth gold medal in the event.
In the preliminary rounds of the sled hockey, China shutout the Slovakian team 7 – 0. The United States and Canada opened their slad hockey play with a reprise of the gold medal game from Korea. The U.S. team needed only one goal but scored five points in a 5 – 0 win over Canada.
Wheelchair Curling also began with Canada, Sweden, Slovakia, Norway and Great Britain all won their opening games.
Ukrainian born American Oksana Masters was the first athlete from the U.S. to earn a medal…and it was a gold in biathlon. She dedicated her medal to team USA and the people of Ukraine. This was Masters fifth gold medal and eleventh overall. It was her first biathlon title win.
In the first medal count of the 2022 Paralympic Games:
host country China leads the way with four gold medals and a total of 13 medals.
China – 13
Ukraine – 7
Canada – 5
Germany – 5
Japan – 3
Austria – 3
France – 3
Great Britain – 3
Slovakia – 2
United States – 2
New Zealand – 1
Italy – 1
Norway – 1
Sweden – 1
Switzerland – 1