While most of us were probably still recovering from winter break in March, three incredible athletes from California were representing Team USA on one of the world’s biggest sporting stages. At the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, Kate Delson, Jen Lee, and Matthew Brewer brought home some serious medals and major bragging rights for the Golden State.

Let’s talk about these absolute legends. Kate Delson, a 20-year-old from San Diego, is basically the baby of Team USA’s Para snowboard team, and she’s already proving herself at the highest level. She took home both gold and silver medals at Milano Cortina, which is genuinely wild for someone so young. Delson’s been shredding the slopes of California’s Eastern Sierras since she was just six years old, so this success didn’t come out of nowhere. Her story is the kind of thing that makes you believe in hard work and dedication actually paying off.

Then there’s Jen Lee from the Bay Area, who just added more hardware to an already impressive collection as a four-time Paralympic gold medalist. Lee competed with Team USA’s sled hockey team and helped bring home another medal for the country. Beyond being an absolute beast on the ice, Lee is also a U.S. Army Veteran, which speaks to a level of commitment and resilience that goes way beyond sports. The Bay Area is definitely proud to claim this one.

Matthew Brewer, a Huntington Beach native, represented the U.S. in Para alpine skiing in the sitting classification. As a returning Paralympian and former nationally ranked snowboarder, Brewer’s path to Milano Cortina wasn’t exactly straightforward. But that’s kind of the whole point, his ability to overcome adversity and come back to compete at the highest level is exactly what the Paralympic movement is all about.

All together, these three Californians helped Team USA secure 24 medals at Milano Cortina, with three of those coming directly from the Golden State. That might not sound like a huge number, but these athletes were competing against the best in the world. Their achievements showcase just how much talent exists right here in California, and their stories of perseverance and determination should genuinely inspire anyone watching.

If you’re looking for proof that hard work and dedication actually mean something, look at what these three just accomplished. They’re representing California and the entire country at the highest level of adaptive sports, and honestly, that’s pretty dope.