Laurie Stephens came to the 2026 Winter Paralympics with a goal that had nothing to do with medals. After six Games, seven Paralympic medals, and 15 World Championship podiums, the Team USA flag bearer wanted to ski "loose and free and not be so hung up on how I finish."

On March 12, she competed in the Women's Giant Slalom Sitting. It was her last giant slalom race ever. She didn't medal.

Anna-Lena Forster of Germany won in 2:30.64. Muraoka Momoka of Japan took silver at 2:31.92, and Liu Sitong of China claimed bronze at 2:34.79. The win was unexpected for Forster, who doesn't typically dominate in giant slalom.

Stephens finished further back. The specifics don't matter because she got exactly what she asked for.

She first competed at the 2006 Paralympics in Sestriere, Italy. Twenty years later, she's closing her career in Italy again. In interviews before the race, she talked about how different this Games felt. "Most of my other Games I've been a ball of anxiety," she said. "I'm just trying to experience the Paralympics for what they are and soak it all in."

That's what she did. Not a medal run, but a race on her terms.

Ukraine Swept the Men's Sprint VI Podium

Day 6 also brought a biathlon result that underscored Ukraine's dominance in the visually impaired category. Oleksandr Kazik and his guide Serhii Kucheriavyi won gold in the Men's Sprint VI. Iaroslav Reshetynskyi and guide Dmytro Drahun took silver. Anatolii Kovalevskyi and guide Oleksandr Mukshyn claimed bronze.

All three athletes competing for Ukraine. All three on the podium.

The sweep is part of a larger pattern at these Games. Ukraine has been a consistent force across multiple biathlon events, building depth in the visually impaired category that other nations haven't matched.

Other Day 6 Results

Cai Jiayun of China won the Men's Sprint Standing biathlon with a clean shooting performance (0+0) and a time of 17:13.6. Liu Xiaobin, also of China, took silver at 17:35.4. Marco Maier of Germany earned bronze at 17:42.4.

In the Women's Giant Slalom Vision Impaired alpine event, Veronika Aigner and her guide Eric Digruber of Austria won gold in 2:18.63. Chiara Mazzel and guide Fabrizio Casal of Italy took silver at 2:21.19. Elina Stary and guide Stefan Winter of Austria claimed bronze at 2:25.30.

Stephens will race again before the Games end. But the giant slalom is done. She leaves that event having defined success on her own terms, not the clock's.