Kelowna’s Emily Young wins silver in Paralympics mixed skiing relay
PYEONGCHANG, Korea, Republic Of — Mark Arendz hopes he inspired a country when he carried Canada’s flag into Sunday’s closing ceremonies of the Pyeongchang Paralympics.
The 28-year-old biathlete and crosscountry skier from Hartsville, P.E.I., raced to six medals in Pyeongchang, and was selected to lead Canada’s most successful winter Paralympic team ever into the stadium when the Games’ curtain came down.
“The message I want to share is I’m hoping that anyone in Canada can look at the performances this week, not only from myself but the entire nordic team, the entire Team Canada here in Pyeongchang and see what is possible,” Arendz said just prior to the ceremony.
“I hope I can be the inspiration that you can achieve anything you set your heart to. You make a dream or goal, and you can achieve it, whether it’s starting from the smallest province or a small town, you can get onto the world stage, you can win Paralympic titles.”
Arendz, who lost his left arm when he toppled into a grain auger at age seven, raced to one gold, two silver, and three bronze in Pyeongchang, competing almost daily in a gruelling schedule of both biathlon and cross-country skiing.
The six-foot-three athlete was presented the flag by teammate Brian McKeever, who carried the flag in the opening ceremonies, and claimed his third gold medal of the Games earlier Saturday. Canadian athletes and family members raised a glass in celebration as Arendz and McKeever draped themselves in the Maple Leaf to pose for pictures.
“Just astonishment,” Arendz said on receiving the flagbearer news. “I want to say it’s the cherry on top, but it’s so much more. To have this honour, it’s a dream to be at the Games even, and now I’m at my third Games, I have a collection of medals, and now the honour to represent all of Canada with the flag at the closing ceremonies.”
Hours later, Arendz skied a powerful anchor leg on Canada’s 4x2.5 kilometre relay that included Natalie Wilkie of Salmon Arm, Emily Young of Kelowna, and Chris Klebl of Canmore, Alta. Arendz was fourth when he started but poured it on to give Canada a second-place finish.
Arendz reached the podium in every one of his races, capturing gold earlier in the 15-kilometre biathlon, silver in the 7.5K biathlon, and three bronze medals in the 12.5K biathlon, 1.5K cross-country sprint, and 10K cross-country race.
“Mark has been one of the absolute standout stories of these Paralympic Games for Canada,” said Canada’s chef de mission Todd Nicholson.
“He is a phenomenal Canadian, athlete, and person, and we are in awe of his talent and unrelenting dedication.”
The Canadian team of 55 athletes strong had set a cautious goal of 17 medals at the Pyeongchang Paralympics, one better than four years ago in Sochi.But the Canadians blew past that mark with several days still to go and never looked back, capturing 28 medals to crush their previous best of 19 in 2010 in Vancouver.