Blake Eaton, a 2022 graduate of Duluth Denfeld High School, has been named to the United States team for the 2026 Winter Paralympics in alpine skiing. The 21-year-old athlete, who has spina bifida, will compete in sitting events using a mono-ski. Eaton expressed excitement about realizing his long-held dream of Paralympic competition.
Blake Eaton, a Duluth Denfeld alumnus, was selected this week for the US team in alpine skiing for the 2026 Winter Paralympics, set for March 6-15 in Milano and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. The 14th edition of the games will feature international competitions for athletes with physical disabilities, with para-alpine events starting March 7 with the downhill and concluding March 15 with the slalom.
Eaton, paralyzed since birth due to spina bifida, began skiing at age 4 through the Team Duluth program at Spirit Mountain. During high school, he competed in adaptive sports, including multiple appearances at the MSHSL state track and field meet where he won six state titles. He now trains at the National Ability Center in Park City, Utah, and has achieved three podium finishes in national championships, 10 in international events, and three top-12 results in the Europa Cup.
Eaton uses a mono-ski, a bucket chair on a single ski, steered by upper body movements and shortened poles. In a 2020 News Tribune feature, he shared his aspirations: “I have a dream of being in the (Paralympics) some day and I’m going to try to make that happen... Maybe in 2026 in Milan (Italy), I’ll have that much more experience. That’s something I think is reachable.”
Reflecting on his selection in an Instagram post, Eaton said: "This is surreal. From (a) little kid growing up in small hill Minnesota to moving out to Utah. Competing internationally and now I'm going to be living my dream of competing in the Paralympics! In all these ups and downs in this journey it's been all worth it."
The US team includes 32 athletes in alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, biathlon, and snowboarding, blending veterans and newcomers selected based on international performances.