Thieves steal 2 snowboards from Paralympic champion Perathoner during medal ceremony in Cortina

©picture alliance/dpa | Philipp von Ditfurth

Once again, a theft shocks the Milan-Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, following that of the two curling stones. This time, against his will, Emanuel Perathoner was the victim. After capturing gold in the boardercross and in the banked slalom at the Paralympics, the champion from South Tyrol had to deal with an incredible theft: his two precious snowboards were stolen during the awards ceremony last Friday, at the Socrepes complex in Cortina d'Ampezzo.

Unique boards and rare bindings

These are top-of-the-line, personalized and high-value equipment, equipped with limited edition Union Atlas Fc type bindings. As Perathoner explains on social media:

"Friday the 13th, during the competition award ceremony at the Socrepes complex, someone stole two of my Apex boards (in gray and black) with Union bindings type Atlas Fc."

It's not just the design of the boards that makes them unique: the bindings are rare pieces, one is gray with purple, produced in a limited edition, the other yellow with black, one of only two copies worldwide. The serial numbers engraved in the boards also make them easily identifiable.

After the theft, Perathoner made an urgent appeal on social media:

"If anyone has seen them or has any information at all, please contact me."

The hope is that sharing the details of the boards and bindings will help recover the loot and give the champion back what was the result of years of dedication and sacrifice.

From Olympic dream to paralympic resilience

Regardless, his career can be called exceptional. Former Olympian in Vancouver 2010 and Pyeongchang 2018, Perathoner suffered a severe knee injury in 2021 that required a total prosthesis. For many, the sporting dream would have ended there, but not for him: he decided to compete in the paralympics.

From then on the successes followed one another, with world titles and prestigious results that in 2023 earned him the Collare d'oro al merito sportivo paralimpico, the highest Italian award for paralympic athletes. Then at the Paralympics came the final crowning touch with two gold medals, before theft spoiled the revelry.

(©GreenMe.it 2026 / Managing Editor: Julie Morgan - The Press Junction / Picture: ©picture alliance/dpa | Philipp von Ditfurth)