Canada’s Para Nordic team adds 3 medals at World Championships in Sweden
The Canadian Para Nordic team added three more podium finishes on Sunday to go with the four medals secured on Saturday during the opening weekend of the 2023 Para Nordic World Championships in Ă–stersund, Sweden.
Natalie Wilkie raced to a silver medal in the classic distance race. The native of Salmon Arm, BC, who turned 22 on Saturday, was followed right behind by Brittany Hudak of Prince Albert, Sask.
Collin Cameron of Bracebridge, Ont., took Canada’s second silver medal of the day and third overall in the cross-country race.
“The conditions were pretty decent today. It was really cold, but our team had a good grip on the hills,” Wilkie said. “18 kilometers was definitely long, but today was about consistency and not going too hard. I think we did it.”
The race was won by Vilde Nilsen from Norway, who had a time of 56:22.9 to best Wilkie and Hudak.
“I focused on riding smart at a pace I knew I could hold. With a lot of climbing I knew it was going to build so I tried to keep a steady rhythm. We had great skis and definitely the best cheer squad out there,” said the 29 -year-old Hudak.
Cameron overcomes the cold
“It was tough today,” said the 34-year-old Cameron, who woke up with a cold and considered not starting.
“I chose to just go to the race and see what happens rather than not start and risk getting sick anyway. I’m really happy with how I managed my energy for such a long race in really cold conditions and get on the podium again.”
Italy’s Giuseppe Romele took gold while Pavlo Bal of Ukraine completed the podium.
Competition is back on Tuesday with cross-country speed skating sprint events.