BEIJING – Canada’s Brian McKeever and Natalie Wilkie are lucky they didn’t get speeding tickets on Day 5 in Beijing.
The Para cross-country sprint races got underway on Wednesday morning (March 9) at the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympic Games with McKeever and Wilkie winning gold for Canada, and Collin Cameron bringing home bronze.
Taking place at the Zhangjiakou National Biathlon Centre, the quick freestyle races are perhaps the most exciting Para Nordic Ski event of the Games.
In women’s standing sprint, the 21-year-old Wilkie went head-to-head in the final 100 metres with world champion Vilde Nilsen. However, it was the Canuck turning on the nitro and pulling ahead of the Norweigan in the final metres to claim her second gold medal of these Games.
Paralympic Champion once again! Natalie Wilkie claims another gold, this time in the women's standing sprint 🥇 @NordiqCanada pic.twitter.com/BzIZxVqsSo
— Canadian Paralympic Committee (@CDNParalympics) March 9, 2022
Wilkie crossed the line at 4:05.1, and Nilsen finished at 4:08.1. USA’s Sydney Peterson took bronze.
RELATED: Natalie Wilkie: Bow Valley's Beijing Bound Athletes
McKeever and Kennedy have done it again in Beijing after punching the attack the men’s sprint vision impaired to take top spot.
The Canadians turned on the jets in the final stretch to hold off USA’s Jake Adicoff and guide Sam Wood to capture first place at a time of 3:19.5.
Just another day at the office for @brianmckeever & guide @rusyspurs with gold in the sprint 🥇 @NordiqCanada pic.twitter.com/3INgcSYEBV
— Canadian Paralympic Committee (@CDNParalympics) March 9, 2022
Zebastian Modin and guide Emil Joensson Haag of Sweden took bronze.
RELATED: Brian McKeever: Image of Greatness
In men’s sitting sprint, Cameron had a 16-second gap to make up, but just came up shy to win bronze at a time of 2:46.3.
Chinese skiers Zheng Peng (2:42.4) and Mao Zhongwu (2:44.9) finished first and second, respectively.
Catch Collin Cameron's bronze performance in the men's sitting sprint 🥉 @NordiqCanada pic.twitter.com/fO49V2X5KK
— Canadian Paralympic Committee (@CDNParalympics) March 9, 2022
In women’s sitting, Canada’s Christina Picton finished sixth in the sprint final.
The Canuck crossed the line at 3:38.6.
China’s Yang Hongqiong won gold, USA’s Oksana Masters took silver, and China’s Li Panpan finished with bronze.
RELATED: Collin Cameron: Bow Valley's Beijing Bound Athletes
The Bow Valley contingent at the Paralympics has won nine medals after five days (five gold, four bronze).
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