Colorado Springs Paralympian goes for gold
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Noah Elliott of Team USA competes in Men's Para Snowboard. Photo: Dario Belingheri/Getty Images
Colorado Springs' Noah Elliott made his hometown proud Sunday, capturing silver in the men's snowboard cross SB-LL1 at the Milan Cortina Paralympics — and he's not done yet.
Why it matters: Competing in his third Paralympic Games, Elliott says he's driven by more than medals. He tells Axios he wants to give back to the sport and to Team USA — the team that inspired him as a teenager battling the cancer that cost him his leg.
The big picture: Elliott, 28, is no stranger to the podium.
- He won gold and bronze medals at the 2018 Winter Paralympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, and is a three-time world champion with nine World Cup podium finishes.
Flashback: In 2014, Elliott was mourning the end of his pro skateboarding dreams after a partial leg amputation when he watched Team USA sweep the podium in the debut Paralympic snowboard cross event in Sochi, Russia, according to his Team USA bio.
- That moment reshaped his future.
What he's saying: Now, he feels a responsibility to be the same source of hope for others navigating similar circumstances, he says.
- "I got lucky and was able to discover the sport and get into it," he says. Part of that mission is helping raise the profile of the Paralympics — and the elite athletes who compete.
State of play: In Sunday's snowboard cross final, Elliott jumped out to an early lead and stayed ahead of a crash that took out the defending gold medalist.
- Yes, but: He was edged at the line by China's Wu Zhongwei, settling for silver.
- "It's a curse and a blessing to be leading," Elliott says.
Zoom in: He moved to Colorado Springs after the 2018 Pyeongchang Games to train at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic facilities. His family decided to stay, drawn by the affordability, proximity to training facilities, and ease of travel for international competitions.
- "I love everything about it, too," he says. There are "a lot of really good spots, really cool hiking, [and it's] very beautiful."
Fun fact: Nike featured an image of Colorado Springs' very own Garden of the Gods on pieces of its Team USA outdoor line for the 2026 Games.
What's next: Elliott competes in banked slalom on Saturday. The Winter Paralympic Games air on NBC.