CT athletes at the Paralympics: Who they are, how to watch
There are four athletes with Connecticut ties who will compete in the Paralympics in Italy, which will take place March 6-15. The Opening Ceremonies will be held Friday but some competitions, like wheelchair curling, have already started.
Here are the athletes from Connecticut and when they compete:
Steve Emt, Hebron, mixed doubles curling: Emt, 56, is the oldest U.S. Paralympian and a three-time Paralympic competitor in wheelchair curling. He grew up in Hebron and lived there much of his life but moved to Wisconsin two years ago.
Schedule: Wednesday, Emt/Dwyer defeated Latvia, 11-5; Thursday, lost to Japan 7-5 and beat Estonia, 8-4. Next up: Saturday, US vs. South Korea, 8:35 a.m., CBNC; Sunday, US vs. Italy, 9:46 a.m., CNBC; Monday, US vs. China, 10:30 a.m., USA; March 11, Medal finals, 9:35 a.m., USA.
Patrick Halgren, Tolland, alpine skiing: Halgren, 33, who now lives in Colorado, is competing in his second Paralympic Games after finishing 24th in slalom in Beijing in 2022. Halgren, who grew up in Tolland, had his left leg amputated after a motorcycle accident in 2013. Halgren is motivated by the loss of his twin brother Lucas, who died in a motorcycle accident in 2016 and encouraged Patrick to get into para-skiing. Halgren will compete in five events – alpine combined, downhill, giant slalom, slalom and Super G.
Schedule: Saturday, downhill, 5:15 a.m., CNBC, replay at 10:15, CNBC; Monday, Super G, 5 a.m., USA; Tuesday, Super G, combined, 6:45 a.m. USA and combined, slalom, 10:30 a.m., USA; March 11, combined, slalom, 4 a.m. (replay), USA; March 13, giant slalom, 4 a.m., USA; March 15, slalom, 5:15 a.m., CNBC; slalom final run, 9 a.m., CNBC.
Andrew Haraghey, Enfield, alpine skiing: Haraghey, 30, is a three-time Paralympian. He contracted viral encephalitis when he was six months old, resulting in cerebral palsy with severe muscle tension from the waist down. Haraghey started skiing when he was 8 years old. In the 2022 Paralympics in Beijing, Haraghey finished 15th in downhill standing and 17th in Super G and 18th in downhill standing and 24th in Super G at the 2018 Paralympics.
Schedule: Saturday, downhill, 5:15 a.m., CNBC, replay at 10:15, CNBC; Monday, Super G, 5 a.m., USA; Tuesday, Super G, combined, 6:45 a.m. USA and combined, 10:30 a.m., USA; March 11, combined, 4 a.m. (replay), USA.
Nicole Zaino, Brookfield, sitting cross country skiing/biathlon: Zaino, 29, grew up in Brookfield but now lives in Bozeman, Montana. She had a stroke when she was 8 years old and her left side was paralyzed. She started to play sled hockey when she moved to Washington to complete her doctorate but tried Nordic sit skiing on her honeymoon in Whistler, B.C. in 2022 for the first time and enjoyed that more than hockey. This is her first Paralympics and she will compete in Nordic skiing and biathlon.
Schedule: Saturday, sitting biathlon, 7.5K sprint, 4 a.m., CNBC (live), replay at 9 p.m. on NBC; Sunday, sitting biathlon, 12.5K, 5 a.m., CNBC (live), replay at 11:15 a.m., CNBC; March 11, sitting cross country 10K, 4:45 a.m., USA (live), replay at 8:45 a.m., USA; March 15, sitting cross country 20K, 4 a.m., CNBC, replay at 10 a.m., CNBC.
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