Canadian Skiers Strike Gold in Resilience at Milano Cortina Paralympics
Milano Cortina, Italy – Mark Arendz and Brittany Hudak added to Canada’s growing medal count at the 2026 Winter Paralympics on Wednesday, both securing bronze medals in standing cross-country skiing. The pair’s performances at Tesero Cross-country Skiing Stadium in Val di Fiemme bring Canada’s total medal haul to ten through five days of competition.
Arendz Continues Paralympic Legacy
Mark Arendz, 36, a five-time Paralympian from Hartsville, P.E.I., finished the 10-kilometre interval start classic race with a time of 27 minutes 59.3 seconds. This marks his 14th career Paralympic medal and his second of these Games, following a silver medal in the individual biathlon earlier this week. He finished behind France’s Karl Tabouret (27:10.7) and Belarus’ Raman Svirydzenka (27:38.4).
The conditions proved challenging, with warmer weather creating slushy snow that impacted performance. “I was battling the conditions for sure and I’m kind of starting to feel the fact that this was the fourth race in five days but I am really happy,” Arendz said. He explained that the softer snow made the climbs significantly more difficult, requiring more energy to maintain momentum. “Every time you move up that hill, it’s just an extra drain on the system. We had to do it four times today with the laps.”
Hudak Overcomes Obstacles to Reach the Podium
Brittany Hudak of Prince Albert, Sask., secured her fourth Paralympic medal with a time of 32:01.0, placing behind American Sydney Peterson (29:49.2) and Norway’s Vilde Nilsen (29:51.8). This victory is particularly significant as the 32-year-old Hudak has been battling the lingering effects of a knee injury for the past year and a half.
“It feels so good,” Hudak said. “I was really happy with my races at the start of the Games and I really feel like my fitness is there, the technique is there. It’s really just kind of putting together a good race. Today, the conditions were tough, but I really just tried to embrace that. I knew it was the same for everyone. To get a bronze medal here feels really great.”
Canada’s Nordic Skiing Strength
Canada’s nordic skiing team has now accounted for six of the country’s ten medals, with three apiece in cross-country and biathlon. The team’s success highlights the strength of Canada’s para-nordic program and its dedication to athlete development.
Emma Archibald of Fall River, N.S., finished sixth in 35:26.8.
Latvia Makes Paralympic History
In a separate event, Latvia secured its first-ever Winter Paralympic medal in the inaugural wheelchair curling mixed doubles competition. Poļina Rožkova and Agrs Lasmanis defeated the United States duo of Laura Dwyer and Stephen Emt 11-10 in an extra-end thriller.
The Latvian duo’s success story has roots in Canada, as they first partnered at the 2023 World Wheelchair Mixed Doubles Curling Championship held in Richmond, B.C.
Looking Ahead: Canada’s Pursuit of 200 Medals
With ten medals secured through five days of competition, Canada is edging closer to its goal of reaching 200 total Winter Paralympic medals. The country currently stands at 198 overall. The full medal table is available here.
FAQ
How many Paralympic medals does Mark Arendz have?
Mark Arendz has 14 career Paralympic medals.
What challenges did the athletes face during the cross-country skiing races?
The athletes faced challenging conditions due to warmer weather, resulting in slushy snow that made the climbs more difficult.
How many medals has Canada won at the Milano Cortina Paralympics so far?
Canada has won 10 medals through five days of competition – one gold, three silver, and six bronze.
What is significant about Latvia’s medal win?
Latvia won its first-ever Winter Paralympic medal in wheelchair curling mixed doubles.
Did you know? The softer snow conditions actually favored Arendz, who noted he excels in those types of conditions.
Explore more coverage of the Milano Cortina Paralympics here.
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