Canada's Para Nordic Skiers Head to Paralympics

Two decorated champions are gearing up to show the world what determination looks like on snow.

Mark Arendz and Natalie Wilkie will lead Canada's 15-skier Para nordic team when the Milan Cortina Paralympic Games kick off March 6 in Italy. The announcement came Friday in Calgary, revealing a roster packed with talent and medal-winning potential.

Arendz, from Hartsville, Prince Edward Island, heads to his fifth Winter Games carrying an impressive legacy. He's collected 12 Paralympic medals across cross-country skiing and biathlon, including two gold medals that cemented his place among Canada's greatest winter athletes.

Wilkie brings her own remarkable story from Salmon Arm, British Columbia. The triple Paralympic champion has earned seven career medals heading into her third Games, proving her consistency at the highest level of competition.

The team will compete at the Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium in Fiemme Valley after the Olympic Games wrap up. Canada's Para nordic skiers have transformed into an unstoppable force over recent years, building momentum with each competition.

The Ripple Effect

The numbers tell a story of Canadian excellence on the international stage. Canada's nordic skiers claimed 14 medals in Beijing in 2022, following a record-breaking performance of 16 medals in Pyeongchang, South Korea in 2018.

That's 30 medals in just two Games, a testament to the strength of Canada's Para sport program and the dedication of athletes who refuse to let anything stop them. These victories inspire countless Canadians facing their own challenges, proving that limits are meant to be pushed and records are meant to be broken.

The team's success reflects years of training, sacrifice, and an unshakeable belief in what's possible. Each medal represents not just individual achievement but the power of a supportive sports community that invests in adaptive athletics.

As Arendz and Wilkie prepare for their biggest stage yet, they carry the hopes of a nation that's learned to expect greatness from its Para athletes. With the Paralympic Games just weeks away, Canada's nordic ski team stands ready to write the next chapter in their remarkable story.