Montana Athlete Heads to 2026 Paralympics After Remarkable Journey

There was excitement across Montana for the 2026 Cortina, Italy Winter Olympics. It’s always something special when amazing athletes represent Montana on an international stage.  

Montana Athletes Shine at the 2026 Winter Games

Jake Sanderson, from Whitefish, was able to help bring home the gold with Team USA Hockey, beating Canada in overtime. It was the first gold medal in men’s hockey since 1980.  

READ MORE: Montana’s Jake Sanderson Headed to the 2026 Winter Olympics With Team USA

Konnor Ralph, from Helena, competed in two men’s freestyle skiing events, the big air and slopestyle competitions. He placed 9th in slopestyle and just missed the podium in big air, finishing 5th. 

Montana Represented at the 2026 Paralympics

The Winter Olympics aren’t over just yet. The Milano Cortina Winter 2026 Paralympics are coming. Montana is represented once again by an amazing athlete. Katie Verderber, who was raised in Valier, will be representing Montana and the U.S. in wheelchair curling at the upcoming games.  

READ MORE: Montana’s Winter Sports Stars Prepare for Milano Cortina 2026

Verderber served in the U.S. military as a Judge Advocate General (JAG) in the United States Army and was deployed to Afghanistan in 2019. After suffering an injury to her spine, she returned to Montana and is a practicing attorney. She took up wheelchair curling in 2024 and was named a member of the U.S. Paralympic Team in 2025.  

Montana Continues Its Global Sports Legacy

U.S. Senator Steve Daines has honored Jake Sanderson, Konnor Ralph, and Katie Verderber as Montanans of the Month. Each month Daines highlights a Montanan by submitting a statement of recognition in the recipient’s honor into the Congressional Record, the document that reflects the official proceedings of Congress. 

It will be exciting to cheer on another exceptional Montana athlete competing at the upcoming games, representing our state. We will be cheering Verderber on, and we wish her the best in her quest for a medal.