Ningbo athlete wins bronze at Milan Winter Paralympics

Wang Xinyu secured bronze in the women's snowboard cross LL2 final on March 8 at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Paralympics, marking the first Winter Paralympic medal ever won by a para-athlete from Ningbo.

Shortly after the race, Wang shared her joy in a message to reporters: "I'm very happy and honored to represent my team and my country. Wearing the national flag on my shoulders is both a responsibility and a recognition of the Chinese team's efforts."

Wang, the only athlete from Zhejiang province competing at this year's Winter Paralympics, was born on Aug 19, 2001. An accident at the age of 6 led to the amputation of her foot, changing the course of her life. Yet, the cheerful girl refused to give in to adversity.

Recommended by the local disabled persons' federation, she began swimming at age seven and achieved strong results at provincial para-sports events. In 2018, her physical strength and determination caught the attention of national team coaches, leading her to winter sports.

Starting from scratch, Wang quickly proved her talent in snowboarding. In 2019, she won gold in slalom and silver in snowboard cross at the 10th National Paralympic Games, marking a historic milestone for Zhejiang's winter sports.