Paralympian Patrick Halgren Declares He Is ‘Single and Rich’ After Winning Silver
Self-proclaimed “rock star” Patrick Halgren has turned a Paralympic press conference upside down with his gold chains, braids, and declaration that he’s “unembarrassable.” The American alpine skier, who won a silver medal in the men's super-G standing event at the 2026 Winter Paralympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, delivered a six-minute tour de force that captivated audiences worldwide.
An Unforgettable Press Conference Performance
Halgren, celebrating his first Paralympic Games medal, described Monday as “the best day of my life until tomorrow.” He then boldly announced to the world, “I am rich. Do you like money? Any women like money? Because I am single, and rich.” His charismatic and unfiltered style, complete with a thick gold chain, braids in American red, white, and blue, and a leopard-printed undershirt, showcased his unique personality.
When asked about being labeled the rock star of the Paralympics, Halgren responded, “You’re not wrong. I am a rock star. I always wanted to be this guy Jim Brown, he was my idol … now I am him.” He also praised his coaches as the “best coaches on planet earth, or maybe even the world,” and plugged an upcoming YouTube movie about alpine skiing titled ‘Us and Them.’
A Story of Resilience and Tribute
Behind the humor and bravado lies a deeply personal story of loss and perseverance. Halgren lost his left leg above the knee in a motorcycle accident in 2013, and his brother Lucas ‘Sven’ Halgren died in a similar crash three years later. He honors his brother’s memory by slapping blue and yellow ‘SvendIt’ stickers everywhere, encouraging people to “put the pedal to the floor until I see a chequered flag or God, that is how you win.”
Reflecting on his journey, Halgren shared, “He (Sven) is dead. I am here talking to you guys. I am going to have who knows how many women and champagne after this but it’s like, he liked that too, but he doesn’t get that. And I do. And I recognise that. I died myself. I was in a coma for four months, used defibrillators to start my heart, blood transfusion.”
Embracing Vulnerability and Individuality
In his signature style, Halgren emphasized the importance of being true to oneself. He stated, “I have learned to be unirittable, unembrassable, because that is what it is all about, it is about being vulnerable in this life, it is about failing. It is OK to be embarrassing, it is OK to look weird. To be No.1, you have to be a little odd. You get that? It’s a math joke.”
Halgren’s performance, blending poetic tributes with lines that could rival any celebrity, has solidified his status as a memorable figure in Paralympic history. Even if there is a greater Patrick Halgren on planet earth, none can deliver such an electric rock star performance on and off the slopes.
