Pauls and Stephens Named Team USA’s Flag Bearers for Milano Cortina 2026
Two of the most decorated American winter Paralympians of their generation will lead Team USA into the Milano Cortina 2026 Games — sled hockey’s Josh Pauls and alpine skier Laurie Stephens, chosen by their peers to carry the flag at the March 6 Opening Ceremony.
The pair were selected through a process led by the Team USA Athletes’ Commission, the representative body and collective voice for U.S. Olympic and Paralympic competitors. The ceremony takes place at the Arena di Verona, beginning at 8 p.m. local time, with live coverage on Peacock and USA Network starting at 1:30 p.m. ET.
Pauls: Five Games, Four Titles, One More Shot at History
Heading into his fifth Paralympic Winter Games, Pauls, 33, is widely regarded as the most decorated sled hockey player in the sport’s history. A four-time Paralympic champion, he made his Games debut at Vancouver 2010 and has captained the U.S. to gold at each of the past two Paralympic Winter Games. A seven-time world champion, Pauls is now chasing a fifth consecutive Paralympic title for the U.S. program he has helped define for more than 15 years.
For Pauls, the honor carried a dimension beyond sport. His grandfather emigrated from Italy, making the flag-bearer role at a Games held on Italian soil a deeply personal milestone.
“To be selected as a flag bearer is such a great honor,” Pauls said. “It is an honor that’s really special just because it’s done by your peers. To do this in the country my grandfather was born in and to be able to carry the U.S. flag in the country he was able to come to and make a life for himself — that’s what America’s all about. To represent more than just my teammates and country is something that’s really special.”
Stephens: A 20-Year Paralympic Journey Comes Full Circle
Stephens, preparing for her sixth Paralympic Winter Games, is among the most accomplished American winter Paralympians of any era. She made her debut at Torino 2006, where she won gold in the downhill and super-G, plus silver in the giant slalom — a remarkable introduction that set the foundation for a career that would grow to include four additional Paralympic podium appearances across seven total medals.
Twenty years after that debut on Italian snow, Stephens will again compete on home territory — this time as a flag bearer in what she has described as her final Paralympic Games.
“I began my Paralympic journey 20 years ago in Torino and then to carry the flag at my final Paralympics in Cortina is a full-circle honor,” Stephens said. “It’s one I’m proud to carry forward as I step into coaching the next generation.”
USOPC Recognizes Both Athletes’ Legacies
United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee CEO Sarah Hirshland credited both athletes’ standing within the Team USA community as central to their selection.
“It’s a privilege to announce Josh Pauls and Laurie Stephens as Team USA’s Opening Ceremony flag bearers for the Milano Cortina Paralympic Games,” Hirshland said. “They have earned the respect of their fellow Team USA athletes through their commitment to excellence, dedication and character, and we’re proud to have them represent our Paralympic team to open the Games.”
The Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games will be broadcast across NBCUniversal platforms, including Peacock, USA Network, and expanded accessibility and social media channels.