Russia at the 2010 Winter Paralympics

Russia sent a delegation to compete at the 2010 Winter Paralympics in Vancouver, Canada. The country fielded thirty-two athletes in cross-country skiing, biathlon, and alpine skiing.[3] Russia placed first overall in the total medal count, winning thirty-eight medals overall.[4]

Russia at the 2010 Winter Paralympics
IPC code	RUS
NPC	Russian Paralympic Committee
Website	www.paralymp.ru (in Russian)
in Vancouver
Competitors	32 in 3 sports
Flag bearer	Valery Kupchinskii[1]
Medals Ranked 2nd	Gold 12 Silver 16 Bronze 10 Total 38
Winter Paralympics appearances
1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018
Other related appearances
Soviet Union (1988)  Unified Team (1992)

Anna Burmistrova from Russia, awarded the Order of Honour in Russia, for winning two gold, one silver and one bronze in biathlon and Cross-country skiing.[2]

Kirill Mikhaylov from Russia, is awarded the Order For Merit to the Fatherland, fourth degree, in Russia, by President Dmitry Medvedev, for winning three gold and two silver in biathlon and Cross-country skiing.[2]

Russia's success at the Vancouver Paralympics stood in sharp contrast with its disappointing performance at the Vancouver Olympics the previous month, attracting media attention.[5] The Moscow Times noted the irony in the fact that there had been high hope for Russia's Winter Olympians, while fairly little attention had been paid to its Paralympians, until their performance stood out with a crop of medals.[6] While the Moscow Times focused on the difficulties faced by the country's Paralympians in their everyday life, however, the Vancouver Sun remarked: "Unlike Canada and other countries where almost all Paralympians must have jobs, Team Russia's competitors are akin to 'sports professionals'. Most don't work so they can focus solely on their training, which is funded by the state and individual sponsors".[7] With Sochi being the host city of the 2014 Winter Paralympics, a Russian segment was performed at the closing ceremony.