Support WBUR
Mass. athletes to watch in the 2026 Paralympics
Missing the Olympics? Have no fear: the Paralympics are almost here.
The opening ceremony on March 6 will provide an official kickoff to the Games. There are a plethora of events over 12 days across six para sports, and a few athletes with Massachusetts roots to cheer for as you watch. Here's who to know:
Sled hockey
Who: David Eustace (Stoneham), Griffin LaMarre (Haverhill)
Roots: This is the second Paralympic Games for Eustace and LaMarre. They previously won gold in Beijing. Before the games, Eustace and LaMarre played together on the Northeast Passage/UNH Sled Hockey Team in New Hampshire.
When: Team USA first takes the ice on March 7 in a preliminary round game against Italy. They go on to play Germany on March 9 and China the following day in preliminary matches. The outcome of these games will determine whether they compete for a medal. Team USA are the defending champions, having won four straight gold medals going into the Milan Games.
There is no women's equivalent competition, though the women's players are hoping to add it to a future Paralympic Games.
Para alpine
Who: Laurie Stephens (Wenham) and Tyler McKenzie (Leominster)
Roots: Stephens is a seven-time Paralympic medalist, with two golds, two silvers and three bronzes over the span of five Games. She first tried para skiing on New Hampshire's Loon Mountain at age 12, and now competes for Team USA in the LL2 sitting classification.
McKenzie is making his Paralympic debut under the para alpine standing classification. He grew up skiing, then re-learned the sport as a para athlete following a biking accident that damaged his the nerves in his spine.
When: Stephens is set to compete in giant slalom on March 12 and slalom on March 14. McKenzie is set to compete in a downhill, super-G, alpine combined, giant slalom and slalom, with races nearly every day between March 7 and March 15.
Para snowboard
Who: Jackie Hamwey (Boston)
Roots: This is Hamwey's Paralympic debut. The Northeastern University alum competes in the LL2 classification.
When: Hamwey is set to compete in snowboard cross, with races beginning on March 7, and banked slalom on March 14.
Wheelchair curling
Who: Sean O'Neill (Sandwich)
Roots: This is O'Neill's first Paralympics. He's a mixed team curler who grew up in the Forestdale village of Sandwich. He got his Bachelor's degree at Boston College and law degree at Harvard. He is a practicing lawyer in Boston. O'Neill learned wheelchair curling at the Cape Cod Curling Club. Steve Emt, a Connecticut native and one half of the mixed doubles curling team, also learned to curl at the Cape club.
When: O'Neill takes the ice with his teammates for Team USA's first session of round robin play on March 7 against China. The team plays again later that day against Great Britain. All told, they will play nine sessions during round robin play, and their performance will determine if they will compete for medals.
