CANMORE, Alta.-Canada will send 12 cross-country ski athletes to the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, who bring an impressive list of international medals won as long as the trails they will compete on at Whistler Paralympic Park, Cross Country Canada announced on Thursday.
Paralympic veterans, Brian McKeever and Colette Bourgonje who have combined to win 15 Paralympic medals for Canada, will headline the 2010 squad that is loaded with veteran leadership and youthful energy. Five of the 12 athletes named have skied to the podium at the IPC World Cup, IPC World Championships or Paralympic Winter Games.
"Canada is a force to reckon with in cross-country skiing at the Paralympic Games," said Tom Holland, high-performance director, Cross Country Canada. "We have assembled a team of athletes that have won medals at all levels in their sport including multiple Paralympic Games. These results are a tribute to the talent and dedication to excellence by this elite group of athletes and coaching staff."
McKeever, of Canmore, Alta., who qualified for Canada's Olympic Team last month, will return for his third Paralympic Winter Games. The 30-year-old McKeever, who will be guided by his brother Robin, has won seven Paralympic medals in the visually impaired category.
Regarded as one of the greatest wheelchair athletes of our time, Saskatoon's Colette Bourgonje will make her sixth appearance at a Winter Games to go along with three trips to the Summer Paralympics. Bourgonje has won four medals in each the Summer and Winter Paralympics.
Bourgonje and McKeever will be joined by three other IPC World Cup medal-winning athletes on the 12-team squad. Mark Arendz, of Springton, P.E.I., will make his Paralympic debut in the biathlon events. Arendz, who competes in the men's standing division, captured his first World Cup podium finishes last month.
Robbie Weldon and Brian Berry, of Thunder Bay, Ont., will join forces in the women's visually impaired category. A three-year veteran of the national program, Weldon will make her first appearance at the Games. Another first-time Paralympian, Jody Barber of Smithers, B.C., who has climbed onto the international podium in just two seasons with the Canadian squad will compete in the women's standing division.
Other athletes include: Vancouverites Mary Benson and Andrea Bundon, who will guide for Vancouver's Courtney Knight; and Ottawa's Margarita Gourbonova who will be guided by Robert D'Arras in women's racing.
Tyler Mosher will welcome the world to his home community of Whistler in men's racing. Rounding out the men's team includes: Lou Gibson, of Langley, B.C., Quebec's Sebastian Fortier; and Ottawa's Alexei Novikov, who will be guided by Jamie Stirling.
"This is a very talented group of athletes that bring a wealth of experience, and know what it takes to succeed under pressure on the international stage," said Holland. "Depth is critical to attacking the podium in sport, and we have selected a talented group of athletes capable of winning medals."
Canada's Paralympic Cross-Country Ski Team will train at the Canmore Nordic Centre until March 8, 2010 when they will head to the Paralympic City. The 2010 Paralympic Winter Games take place from March 11-21, 2010.
Cross Country Canada is the governing body of cross-country skiing in Canada. Its 51,000 members include athletes, coaches, officials and skiers of all ages and abilities, including those on Canada's National Ski Teams and Para-Nordic Ski Teams. Cross-country skiing is Canada's optimal winter sport and recreational activity with more than one million Canadians participating annually.
