CAF-Backed Athletes Compete in Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics
Event summary
- The Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games begin March 6, featuring over 650 athletes across 79 medal events in six sports.
- More than 55% of Team USA athletes at the Games have received support from the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) at some point in their careers.
- CAF highlights four athletes—Andrew Kurka, Dani Aravich, Josh Sweeney, and Kendall Gretsch—whose journeys reflect the impact of access, support, and opportunity in sport.
- CAF has raised over $191 million and fulfilled over 52,000 grants for athletes with physical disabilities since 1994.
The big picture
The Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics spotlight the strategic role of organizations like CAF in empowering athletes with physical disabilities. With over 55% of Team USA athletes having received CAF support, the event underscores the foundation's deep integration into the Paralympic ecosystem. The Games also highlight broader industry trends in adaptive sports, where access to resources and sustained support are critical for athlete success and long-term participation.
What we're watching
- Athlete Performance
- How the performance of CAF-supported athletes will impact perceptions of adaptive sports and the foundation's mission.
- Funding Impact
- Whether the visibility of the Paralympics will drive increased donations and support for CAF's grant programs.
- Long-Term Engagement
- The pace at which CAF can sustain and expand its support for the next generation of athletes with disabilities.
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