PARA NORDIC SKIING FAST FACTS

1.    Cross-country skiing has been included in all editions of the Paralympic Winter Games from Örnsköldsvik 1976 onwards.

2.    Biathlon made its Winter Paralympic debut at Innsbruck 1988.

3.    Since the first Games, a total of 95 biathlon gold medals and 351 cross-country titles have been awarded. Russia lead the overall biathlon medals table, while Norway top the cross-country standings.

4.    Fifteen countries have won gold and 19 at least one medal in biathlon at the Paralympic Winter Games.

5.    Twenty countries have won gold and 27 at least one medal in cross-country at the Paralympic Winter Games.

6.    Ragnhild Myklebust took 16 cross-country titles, more than any other skier. Moreover, she is the most decorated Winter Paralympian overall with 22 golds, three silvers and three bronze.

7.    Brian McKeever became the most successful male cross-country skier at PyeongChang 2018, taking his total gold medal haul to 13.

8.    Verena Bentele and Vitaliy Lukyanenko lead the overall women’s and men’s medals tables, respectively.

9.    Athletes are divided into three categories depending on their type of disability: sitting, standing and vision impaired.

10.    Biathletes and cross-country skiers compete in individual events over short, middle and long distances.