At the 2026 Winter Paralympics in Milano Cortina, the United States Para Ice Hockey Team captured gold after defeating Canada in the final 6-2.

But beyond the podium, another storyline quietly unfolded.

Paralympic ice hockey is officially a mixed-gendered sport, meaning men and women are eligible to compete together. Despite the openness, women remain rare on the rink. In this year’s tournament, only two women were rostered across all participating teams: one from Japan and one from Slovakia. And out of 135 athletes competing in the tournament, only one of them ultimately took the ice.

That moment belonged to Fukunishi Akari.

The Only Woman on the Ice

Fukunishi, a defender for Japan Para Ice Hockey, made history as the fourth ever woman to compete in Paralympic ice hockey. 

Japan opened the tournament with a close 3-2 loss to Czech Republic and while the result didn’t fall their way, Fukunishi’s appearance on the ice marked a milestone.

“It was exciting to be on the ice but, at the same time, quite a pity that there are so few female players in the world,” Fukunishi said. 

Still, she hopes her appearance on the Paralympic stage can spark change.

“From this opportunity at the Paralympic Games, I expect more Japanese female players to start ice hockey. I hope to come back in 2030 as a member of a Japan female team.”

For Fukunishi, competing alongside men brings its unique challenges. Physical differences in speed and strength are real, but she has found ways to compete through other skills.

“I’m very aware that in terms of speed and physical strength, it’s hard to compete with the men,” she said via Olympics.

 “So I believe my strength lies in what’s often called ‘hockey IQ’—things like strategy and positioning.”

Her goal extends beyond personal success.

“Being the only woman standing among men in the Paralympics is definitely very challenging,” she said. “But there are also so many incredible female athletes out there, and I hope that by being on this stage I can show them that it’s possible for them to be here too.”

She added a message for young girls watching from around the world.

“In a sport like this that demands so much physical strength, I hope girls watching can see that I’m out there competing just as hard as the men and holding my own. I want them to feel that being a girl isn’t a reason to give up—that if you try, you can do it," she said.

“There are also so many incredible female athletes out there, and I hope that by being on this stage I can show them that it’s possible for them to be here too.”

Fukunishi Akari

A Long Way to Go

The only other woman rostered in the tournament was Michaela Hozakova, a forward for the Slovakia Para Ice Hockey team. However, Hozakova served as a reserve player and watched the games from the stands.

While paralympic ice hockey allows women to compete, representation still remains limited. The sport itself has a unique history rooted in accessibility and adaptation.

Para ice hockey was created in the 1960’s at a rehabilitation center in Stockholm by Swedish athletes who wanted to continue playing hockey after experiencing physical impairments. Using sleds mounted on blades, athletes propel themselves with sticks while competing in a fast-paced version of the game. Today, athletes with lower limb impairments qualify to compete.

The sport made its Paralympic debut in 1994 and has since grown into one of the most competitive events in the Winter Games.

Still, gender equity has been slower to develop.

Andrew Parsons, the president of the International Paralympic Committee, has acknowledged that progress toward gender parity in Para ice hockey has not come quickly enough.

“The direction is really clear... once we are able to have a female tournament in Para-ice hockey, this will help a lot to fill the gap." via BBC.

For that to happen, several benchmarks must be met: at least two women’s World Championships must be held, eight nations sustain participation, and athletes from three global regions must compete consistently.

For now, players like Fukunishi and Hozakova are helping push the sport forward, one shift at a time.

Their presence in Milano Cortina may have been rare, but its impact could extend far beyond the ice. If more girls see themselves in the sport because of this moment, the future of Paralympic ice hockey may look different in the next Winter Games.