Winter Paralympics arrive in the USA for the first time

Although the USA had hosted the Winter Olympics in 1960 and again in 1980, the country had never hosted the Winter Paralympics.  The 2002 Winter Paralympics marked the Games' first visit to the USA as they reached their third continent (having been staged in Europe numerous times and in Asia in 1998).

The Games were officially opened by the US President George W Bush at the 45,000 capacity Rice-Eccles Stadium on the campus of the University of Utah.

At the Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Paralympics Ragnhild Myklebust of Norway won five gold medals in skiing and biathlon.  This feat meant that Myklebust became the most successful Winter Paralympic athlete of all time having won an astonishing 27 medals, 22 of them gold, over five consecutive Games.  She won Paralympic medals in short, middle and long distance cross-country races, relays, the biathlon and ice-sledge racing.

Germany topped the medal table with 33 medals, 17 of which were gold. Hosts USA finished the Games in second place while Norway finished in third.

Date Games were held: March 7 - 16

Number of nations represented: 36

Number of competitors: 416

Number of medals awarded: 276