8 Top Moments From The Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022

A graphic consisting of an image from the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 that took place on March 4, 2022 in Beijing. 

On March 4, 2022, the Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 kicked off with a phenomenal opening ceremony. The games lasted a total of lasted 10 days, and a total of 564 athletes representing 46 different National Paralympic Committees competed 78 medal events across six sports. Team USA sent 65 athletes to compete, the second-most of any nation represented. In total, the squad took home 20 medals — six golds, 11 silvers, and three bronzes. Along the way, several Team USA athletes posted personal (and historic) bests. Throughout the next 10 days, Team USA will highlight eight incredible moments on its social media platforms. The athletes and their accomplishments are listed below:

Garrett Geros celebrates his silver medal in snowboard cross during the Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 on March 7, 2022 in Beijing.

March 7, 2022: It didn't take long for Garrett Geros to reach new personal heights at his first Paralympic Winter Games. The 23-year-old from Cartersville, Georgia captured a silver medal in the men's SB-LL2 snowboard-cross event in Beijing. Geros placed second in the qualification round behind eventual gold medalist, Matti Suur-Hamari of Finland and won his quarterfinal heat to advance to the semifinals. In the semifinals, he took second place behind China's Sun Qi. However, he bested Sun in the final, crossing the finish line second to claim his first-ever Paralympic medal.

Kendall Gretsch celebrates with her gold medal after winning the 10-kilometer sitting biathlon event during the Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 on March 8, 2022 in Beijing

March 8, 2022: Just seven short months after Kendall Gretsch captured Paratriathlon gold at the delayed Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020, the Illinois native snapped into her cross-country skis and collected three medals, one gold, one silver and one bronze, during the Paralympic Winter Games. Despite accruing a penalty for missing a shot in the women's 10-kilometer sitting biathlon event, Gretsch held off her Para Nordic teammate, Oksana Masters, for the gold. Gretsch crossed the finish line 8.7 seconds ahead of Masters. 

Sydney Peterson celebrates her bronze medal in the 1.5-kilometer sprint standing event of the Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 on March 9, 2022 in Beijing.

March 9, 2022: Although she celebrated this bronze medal on March 9, 21-year-old Sydney Peterson collected three total medals during the Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022. Earlier on March 6, the Minnesota native secured a silver medal in the women's 15-kilmoter classical standing event, finishing with a time of 49 minutes, 0.2 seconds. Then, on the final day of competition, she helped the mixed relay squad secure the gold medal, leaving her with one medal attained from each podium spot after the Games completed.

Thomas Walsh celebrates his silver medal in men's standing giant slalom during the Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 on March 10, 2022 in Yanqing, China.

March 10, 2022: Improving upon his performances at the Paralympic Winter Games Pyeongchang 2018, standing alpine ski racer Thomas Walsh secured a silver medal in the giant slalom in Beijing. The Colorado native raced down the course with a time of 1 minute, 55.44 seconds. It was the Colorado native's first, and Team USA's only, Paralympic medal won in alpine skiing during the Games.

Brenna Huckaby celebrates her gold medal in women's banked slalom during the Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 on March 11, 2022 in Zhangjiakou, China.

March 11, 2022: Brenna Huckaby took an atypical path to the Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, having to win to court decision for the right to compete in a new Paralympic classification since there were no events in Beijing for her original classification. However, her perseverance paid off, as Huckaby claimed her second consecutive gold medal in banked slalom. This was the Louisiana native's third Paralympic snowboarding gold medal, tying her with Bibian Mentel-Spee of the Netherlands for the most gold medals in Paralympic snowboarding history. Huckaby also collected a bronze medal in snowboard cross during the Games. 

Oksana Masters celebrates at the finish line of the women's cross-country 7.5-kilometer sitting event during the Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 on March 12, 2022 in Beijing.

March 12, 2022: By all accounts, Oksana Masters is already a Paralympic legend based on her penchant for collecting medals at both the summer and winter Paralympics. However, on March 12, Masters added another historical feat to her phenomenal resume. In the women's cross-country 7.5-kilometer free sitting event, Master's secured a silver medal with a time of 25 minutes, 24.7 seconds. It was her sixth medal of the Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 and the 14th of her career, making her the most-decorated winter Paralympian in U.S. history. A day later in the mixed team sprint relay, she would add her seventh medal of the Games, a gold.   

Josh Pauls controls the puck during the Para ice hockey semifinals against China during the Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 on March 11, 2022 in Beijing.

March 13, 2022: Competing in his fourth Paralympic Winter Games, veteran U.S. sled hockey defenseman Josh Pauls helped the squad to their fourth-straight Paralympic gold medal. During the tournament, Pauls tallied nine points (three goals, six assists), finished +10 while on the ice and helped limit all opponents to a combined one goal allowed over four games played. The New Jersey native also surpassed Joe Howard to hold the sled hockey record for the most Paralympic appearances with 19 career games.

Jake Adicoff celebrates with his guide, Sam Wood, after finishing his leg of the 4 x 2.5-kilometer mixed relay in the Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 on March 13, 2022 in Beijing.

March 13, 2022: Four years after capturing his first Paralympic medal (silver), visually imparied skier Jake Adicoff and his guide Sam Wood finally secured a gold medal in the 4 x 2.5 mixed team relay at the Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022. The California native also picked up two more silver medals during individual races to take home three total pieces of hardware from the Games.