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As the 2026 Winter Paralympics begin on Friday (March 6), Team USA forward Malik Jones is once again taking the ice, representing both his country and a rare presence in the sport.
The Colorado native and Paralympic gold medalist is only the second Black athlete ever to represent the United States in sled hockey at the Paralympic Games, following Tim Jones, who became the first Black sled hockey player to represent Team USA at the 2006 Winter Paralympics in Torino.
Now, Malik Jones returns to the Paralympic stage as the Americans begin their campaign to defend their sled hockey title and pursue a fifth consecutive gold medal, continuing one of the most dominant runs in Paralympic sport.
Jones, 23, enters the Milan-Cortina Games as an experienced part of the U.S. roster after helping the Americans capture gold at the 2022 Winter Paralympics in Beijing.
During those Games, Jones played an important role in Team USA’s offensive attack as the team powered its way to the top of the podium. The victory marked the United States’ fourth straight Paralympic gold medal in sled hockey, a streak the team now hopes to extend in Italy.
Since his Paralympic debut, Jones has continued to build his résumé on the international stage. Over the current Paralympic cycle, he helped the United States secure gold medals at the 2023 and 2025 World Para Ice Hockey Championships, while also contributing during the 2024 World Championships, where Team USA finished with silver.
His speed, offensive instincts, and growing confidence with the puck have made him a valuable piece of the national program as the team prepares for another title run.
Jones grew up in Aurora, Colorado, where he was introduced to adaptive sports at a young age. He was born without tibia bones in his legs and underwent double leg amputations at just 10 months old. After trying out a few different sports growing up, he eventually found sled hockey — a fast-paced version of ice hockey played using specially designed sleds and sticks that allow athletes to propel themselves across the ice.
Jones quickly developed into a standout player, rising through youth and development programs before earning a spot with the U.S. national team and eventually making his Paralympic debut in Beijing.
The 2026 Winter Paralympics officially open on March 6, with sled hockey competition beginning shortly after. Eight teams will compete in the tournament as Team USA looks to extend its dominance in the sport. The Americans have won the last four Paralympic gold medals in sled hockey and enter the Milan-Cortina Games among the favorites to repeat.
For Jones, the opportunity represents another chance to contribute on one of the sport’s biggest stages. Still early in his international career, he is already part of a generation of players working to maintain the United States’ winning tradition while helping bring greater visibility to adaptive hockey.
For many fans watching the Paralympics, Jones’ presence on the ice carries additional significance, continuing a small but meaningful legacy of Black athletes competing in one of the least diverse areas of winter sports. Now, with the puck about to drop in Italy, he has another opportunity to add to that history.
If Team USA reaches the podium once again, Jones could leave Milan with a second Paralympic gold medal and another chapter in a journey that has already helped expand who people see when they look at the sport.
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