PREDAZZO – Natalie Wilkie won Canada’s first gold medal at the Milan Paralympics in Cortina on Sunday with a first-place finish in the women’s standing parabiathlon competition.
Wilkie, of Salmon Arm, B.C., finished in 33 minutes, 1.8 seconds, more than half a minute ahead of China’s Zhao Zhiqing (33:33.5). Ukrainian Oleksandra Kononova took bronze in 33:37.9.
For the Canadian flag bearer, it is the fourth Paralympic gold medal of her career and her ninth Paralympic medal overall. On Saturday she won silver in the women’s standing sprint.
“It’s pretty unreal,” Wilkie said. “Silver was pretty great yesterday, but the gold today is even better. Everything came together today. It’s just a race like any other race, but when you add in the crowds and everything that comes with the Paralympic Games, it all feels like a bigger event.”
“But I feel like I had so much attention at events like this that I was still able to hold on.”
Also on Sunday, Mark Arendz of Hartsville, P.E.I., took silver in the men’s race for his 13th career Paralympic medal. China’s Jiayun Cai won gold and Germany’s Marco Maier took bronze.
“Hearing in the middle of the race that I was only in 10th place is something I’m not used to,” Arendz said. “But it’s also something I can put in my back pocket and take out, knowing I’ve been here before and using that experience to just keep pushing.”
“I know I can outrun a lot of my opponents at distance and keep my head in the game at the range, and that has really helped me.”
Tyler Turner of Campbell River, B.C., took bronze in the men’s SB-LL1 snowboard cross as Canada’s medal total rose to six (1-3-2).
Turner, who won gold four years ago, clashed with Japan’s Junta Kosuda in the final. Turner crossed the finish line in fourth place, but a post-race review determined that Turner should receive bronze.
“The run will weigh heavily on me for a while, but that’s how it is with racing,” Turner said. “We talk about it all the time: the chaos, the falls, everything. Unfortunately, sometimes you have to be a part of it, and today I was. I’m proud to still have won a medal.”
In wheelchair curling, Mark Ideson’s team improved to 3-0 with two wins. Canada scored three goals in the eighth game for a 5-4 victory over Great Britain before defeating Norway 9-2 later in the day.
The Canadian Paralympic Committee also confirmed that para-alpine skier Mollie Jepsen from West Vancouver, B.C., will no longer compete in the Games due to a knee injury.
The six-time Paralympics medalist was able to finish the women’s downhill standing competition on Saturday despite leg problems.
“I am incredibly grateful to the team around me and for the support I received to get back here,” Jepsen said. “And what’s more, it was very special to be part of such an elite group that helped me return to the starting gate with confidence on the descent.”
“I’m looking forward to cheering on Team Canada from the stands and watching my teammates continue to compete out there,” she said.
The competition runs until March 15th.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 8, 2026.
The Canadian Press