Twenty two athletes with ties to Utah are competing in the Milano Cortina Paralympics, running from Wednesday through next Sunday.  Woodland’s Saylor O’Brien is competing in her first Paralympics at Milano Cortina. Credit: Photo courtesy of U.S. Ski and Snowboard The Utah contingent incl udes para skiers Saylor O’Brien and Andrew Haraghey and many more para Nordic skiers and para snowboarders. Like many of these athletes, O’Brien and Haraghey live in Utah — in Woodland and Heber City, respectively — and train at Park City’s National Ability Center.  Mixed doubles wheelchair curling were the only competitions in Northern Italy over the first three days of the Games. The opening ceremony will be held at the Verona Olympic Arena Friday at 8 p.m. CEST and noon MST. Para ice hockey, skiing and snowboarding competitions, in addition to more curling, will begin Saturday.  The Paralympians hope everyone tunes into the Games on Peacock and the NBC family of networks over the next week-plus. They know people are having withdrawals after the Olympics and that their sports are just as high-speed and entertaining.  “Just because the Olympics are over does not mean that stuff is done,” O’Brien said. “We still have our Games, and they’re just as important and needed.” O’Brien is competing in her first Games, where she’ll ski every women’s para skiing competition.  O’Brien was born with Spina Bifida, where the fetal spinal column doesn’t close properly early in pregnancy. She knew she wanted to compete in the Paralympics after watching her first Games at 10 years old. O’Brien qualified for but passed on the 2022 Beijing Paralympics, which COVID hampered. “This is awesome,” O’Brien said from Italy. “It’s at such a beautiful place and venue, and it’s one of my favorite places to ski and race.” O’Brien said there’s been a lovely camaraderie among the athletes.  Despite eight race wins already this year, O’Brien said the season has been a struggle, mostly mentally, so she’s going to give herself grace with wherever she finishes at the Games.  O’Brien believes growing up in Utah near the National Ability Center enabled her to reach this stage.  “That has been such a huge part of my journey,” O’Brien said. “There’s only so many adaptive programs throughout the country that even have high performance competition teams. …  I certainly feel privileged and lucky that the transition of going from just recreationally skiing to saying, ‘I want to do more. I want to race. I want to go to the Paralympics,’ and aiming for that high of a bar was so doable.” Heber City’s Andrew Haraghey is a para alpine skier in his third Games. Credit: Photo courtesy of U.S. Ski and Snowboard Haraghey credited both the National Ability Center and Westminster University, from which he graduated in 2019, for helping him make his third Paralympics. Haraghey was able to train at the National Ability Center and take advantage of their resources, while also competing around the world and finishing his degree in five years, which is quick for a worldly athlete.  “It’s been huge,” Haraghey said. “That was kind of the big draw for me coming out here in the first place.” Haraghey feels blessed to be competing at another Games, where he’ll compete in the downhill, super-G and alpine combined races. In para alpine combined, each skier races both the speed and tech races.  Haraghey has two race wins this season, both in Park City in February. He’s also raced in two Cortina World Cups in the past and believes with good health he can find success at these Games.  “I’m excited,” Haraghey said. “It’s super nice. … It’s really sweet to be able to mesh and mingle, do a little pin trading and all that fun stuff, that’s been huge. It just makes it feel so much more international and like such a big event, instead of just another World Cup with some extra pizzazz like it did in Beijing a little at times.” Haraghey said fans tuning into the Games will see athletes push their bodies and sports in new ways.  “Not only are you skiing down the slope at 60 miles an hour, you’re also doing that with somebody who’s missing a limb or is normally in a wheelchair,” Haraghey said. “People watch NASCAR for the crashes, right? Well, these crashes are pretty impressive.” The post 22 Utah athletes competing in Milano Cortina Paralympics appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less