American cross-country skier Jake Adicoff has made history at the Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics by becoming the first out gay man to win an individual winter Paralympic gold medal. The 30-year-old from Sun Valley, Idaho, secured his second gold in two days, dominating the 10km classic interval start by finishing over a minute and three-quarters ahead of his nearest rival.

Adicoff, who has limited vision after contracting chicken pox in the womb, triumphed in the men's sprint classic just 24 hours earlier. His victory came at his fourth Paralympics, where he's targeting four gold medals in Milan-Cortina. The visually impaired athlete, who competes with guides Reid Goble and Peter Wolter, has been skiing since childhood and previously won relay gold at the 2022 Beijing Games.

Adicoff's success holds particular significance as one of few out LGBTQ+ athletes at the Paralympics. He emphasized the importance of visibility, telling Outsports that showing it's possible to reach the sport's highest levels as an out athlete matters deeply to him. His entourage has been supporting him enthusiastically at the Tesero Cross-Country Centre, waving giant faces and wearing hats with his name. With two more events remaining, Adicoff's historic run continues as he aims to complete his four-gold target.