Varvara Voronchikhina has secured Russia's first winter Paralympic gold medal in 12 years, triumphing in the women's standing super-G at the Milan Cortina Games.
The 23-year-old Para-alpine skier, who was born missing part of her left hand, completed the course in 1 minute 15.60 seconds on Monday morning.
Her victory represents a landmark moment for Russian Paralympic sport, ending a gold medal drought stretching back to the 2014 Sochi Games on home soil.
This is Voronchikhina's second medal of these Paralympics, following the standing downhill bronze she claimed on Saturday.
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Racing second in a field of 15 competitors, Voronchikhina delivered a flawless performance in the latter half of the 38-gate course on the iconic Olimpia delle Tofane piste.
She reached peak speeds of 85 kilometres per hour through the middle section, faster than any other competitor, and celebrated with a fist pump as she crossed the finish line to applause.
France's Aurelie Richard took silver in 1:17.56, nearly two seconds behind the Russian, adding to her downhill silver from Saturday.
Richard had been quicker early on but lost crucial time after going wide and having to correct her line.
Varvara Voronchikhina has secured Russia's first winter Paralympic gold medal in 12 years
|REUTERS
Sweden's Ebba Aarsjoe claimed bronze in 1:17.64, complementing her downhill gold.
Russia's participation at these Games follows years of exclusion from Paralympic competition.
Athletes were initially banned in 2018 due to state-sponsored doping, with further sanctions imposed after the invasion of Ukraine on the eve of the 2022 Winter Paralympics.
The International Paralympic Committee lifted its suspension of Russia and Belarus last September, despite heavy backlash.
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Russia's participation at these Games follows years of exclusion from Paralympic competition
|REUTERS
However, FIS, the international skiing and snowboarding governing body, maintained its own ban.
Voronchikhina and her teammates only returned to international competition in January after successfully appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against FIS on grounds of discrimination.
Russia was granted six automatic entries to these Games, with Belarus receiving four.
The medal ceremony is scheduled for later on Monday, following the conclusion of the day's Para-alpine skiing events, when Russia's national anthem will be heard at a Paralympics for the first time since Sochi 2014.
Russia's flag flew at a Paralympic Winter Games opening ceremony
| GETTYVoronchikhina said: "It's really special for me because I can see my flag on my friends who arrived here. It's amazing.
"I have a big support in my family and my friends and all people in Russia."
Though competing at her debut Paralympic Games, the Russian is a two-time world champion from 2021, including in the super G, and remains in contention for further medals.
The controversy surrounding the inclusion of six Russian and four Belarusian athletes had dominated discussions in the lead-up to the Games.
The International Paralympic Committee is facing criticism from multiple countries over its decision to lift the ban.