(Photo: Team USA Youtube)
TESERO, Italy — March 15, 2026 — On the final day of the Paralympic Games, Sydney Peterson (Lake Elmo, MN) proved she is the undisputed queen of the long distance. Peterson captured her third gold medal of the week in the grueling 20km free standing event, finishing with a time of 47:25.8. Despite the “mashed potato” snow conditions caused by warming afternoon temperatures, Peterson maintained a blistering pace to defeat silver medalist Vilde Nilsen of Norway.
The victory brings Peterson’s total haul in Italy to four medals (three gold, one silver), making her the most successful standing skier of these Games. Her performance has been a source of inspiration for the Minnesota skiing community, where she first learned to glide on the trails of Lake Elmo. Peterson leaves Milan not just as a champion, but as a legend of the sport who overcame significant health challenges, including major surgery in 2023, to reach the pinnacle of her career.
Did You Know? Peterson has a condition called dystonia, which affects the muscle signaling in her left side. She skis using only one pole, a technique that requires incredible core strength and balance to keep the ski tracking straight. Her 20km victory is particularly impressive because “skating” style skiing (used in free technique) is significantly more taxing on the balance than the classic “striding” style.