Canada’s Natalie Wilkie skis to 3rd medal of Milano Cortina, earning sprint classic bronze

Wheelchair curling rink moves to 6-0 in round-robin play; ice hockey team tops Group B.

Canada’s Natalie Wilkie celebrates on the podium after claiming bronze in the the women’s standing sprint classic at the Milano-Cortina Paralympics on Tuesday at Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium in Val di Fiemme, Italy.

Zack Smart, CBC Sports Paralympics Mar 10, 2026

Canadian Para nordic skiing star Natalie Wilkie has now won a medal of every colour at the Milano-Cortina Paralympics, adding bronze in the women’s standing sprint classic on Tuesday in Val di Fiemme.

It’s Wilkie’s first cross-country skiing medal in Italy after earning biathlon gold and silver.

The Salmon Arm, B.C., native crossed the line in a time of three minutes 40.2 seconds to finish behind Norway’s Vilde Nilsen (3:31.3) and American Sydney Peterson (3:35.5) in the six-woman final at Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium.

WATCH | Wilkie claims bronze in cross-country sprint classic

After winning gold and silver medals on the weekend, Natalie Wilkie of Salmon Arm, B.C., won a bronze medal on Tuesday in the women’s cross-country sprint standing classic final at Milano Cortina 2026. CBC

The 25-year-old Wilkie was the top qualifier and had the fastest overall semifinal time (3:31.4) earlier in the day.

Wilkie, one of Canada’s flag-bearers for the opening ceremony, is now a 10-time Paralympic medallist. She took silver in Saturday’s sprint biathlon before winning the women’s individual biathlon on Sunday, making her three for three so far in Italy.

”It’s pretty awesome. My team’s preparations have been really great this year,” Wilkie said.

Wilkie’s family was there cheering her on, including sister Madeleine, fresh off of competing at last week’s Junior World Ski Championships in Lillehammer, Norway.

“It’s so great. My parents and sister are in the stands, my other friends are cheering for me as well, and then of course there are the other athletes, staff, wax techs and stuff — everyone is out here cheering and it’s just awesome to see that support all around the course,” Wilkie said.

“I was a bit disappointed with today’s result and it was so nice to have my mom in the stands to give me a big hug after the race.”

Canada now has eight medals through four days of competition at the Milano-Cortina Paralympics — one gold, three silver, four bronze. The full medal table is available here.

WATCH | Wilkie happy to complete medal set in Italy

Watch the victory ceremony, as Natalie Wilkie of Salmon Arm, B.C., is awarded her bronze medal from the cross-country skiing women’s standing sprint classic final in Val di Fiemme, Italy. CBC

Nearing history

Wilkie, a three-time Paralympian, also won a full set of medals at PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022.

She has two individual events left at these Games, starting with the sprint pursuit biathlon on Friday. She is scheduled to compete in the 20-kilometre interval start free cross-country race on Sunday.

Wilkie is also eligible for the 4×2.5km cross-country relays on Saturday, giving her a chance to tie late alpine legend Lana Spreeman as Canada’s most decorated female Winter Paralympian with 13 medals.

Wilkie helped Canada earn mixed relay silver in 2018 and bronze in 2022.

She has opted to skip Wednesday’s 10km interval start classic to preserve energy for her biathlon finale.

WATCH | Wilkie receives bronze medal

Mark Arendz of Hartsville, P.E.I., finished last in the six-man final for the men’s standing sprint classic later Tuesday after clocking 2:49.7. The 36-year-old will continue the quest for his 14th career Paralympic medal in Friday’s sprint pursuit.

Belarus’ Raman Svirydzenka (2:35.4) won the race for his country’s first medal of the Games, finishing ahead of Germany’s Sebastian Marburger (2:38.1) and France’s Benjamin Daviet (2:42.2).

Six-time Paralympic medallist Collin Cameron of Bracebridge, Ont., was disqualified from racing in the men’s sitting sprint final after he was ruled to have obstructed a competitor during his semifinal.

Eriksson, Smith miss podium by 0.05 seconds

In Para alpine, the Canadian duo of Kalle Eriksson and guide Sierra Smith missed the podium by just 0.05 seconds in the men’s visually impaired combined event, which consists of a super-G followed by a slalom.

Eriksson and Smith, aiming for their third medal in Italy, started strong by posting the second-fastest super-G (1:13.73), but their slalom time of 43.78 was only good for fifth, leaving them with a total time of 1:57.51.

The Canadians finished just over a minute behind Italian gold medallists Giacomo Bertagnolli and Andrea Ravelli (1:56.42) at Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre in Cortina d’Ampezzo.

Neil Simpson and Rob Poth of Great Britain took silver in 1:57.07, while Austrians Johannes Aigner and Nico Haberl beat out the Canadians for bronze.

Kimberley, B.C.’s Eriksson and Ottawa’s Smith, who are also partners, delivered Canada’s first medal of the Games with downhill silver on Saturday before adding super-G bronze on Monday. They still have the giant slalom on Friday and slalom on Sunday.

Michaela Gosselin of Collingwood, Ont., placed seventh overall in the women’s standing alpine combined earlier Tuesday.

Calgary’s Kurt Oatway saw his day end early after posting a DNF (did not finish) in the super-G portion of the men’s sitting combined event.

Canada 6-0 in wheelchair curling

Make it six consecutive wins for Canada to open the Para curling tournament.

With the hammer in the eighth end, Mark Ideson delivered a hit and stick for three points for a come-from-behind 6-5 victory over Sweden, which stole three in the seventh to erase a 3-2 deficit.

At 6-0, Canada is the lone unbeaten team in Milan Cortina. Ideson’s rink downed China 9-4 earlier Tuesday. Both teams entered the match without a loss.

WATCH | Canada scores 3 in 8th end to defeat Sweden

An eighth end come-back by Canada gave them a 6-5 victory over Sweden Tuesday at the Paralympic wheelchair mixed curling tournament at Milano Cortina 2026. CBC

“China is reigning Paralympic champion [and] reigning world champion for a good reason. They’re a great team,” said third Jon Thurston, who completed an incredible now-viral shot against Norway on Monday.

“It’s always good battles between us. We bought our best game today.”

Ideson’s rink downed China 9-4 earlier Tuesday. Both teams entered the match without a loss.

“It’s always good battles between us. We bought our best game today.”

WATCH | Canada pulls away from reigning Paralympic champion China

Canada is now the only undefeated rink after beating China 9-4, to improve their record to 5-0 at Milano Cortina 2026. CBC

After a back-and-forth six ends, Canada pulled away in the seventh end with the hammer, claiming four rocks.

China (4-1) opted to concede the 8th end, confirming the final result for the Canadians.

Canada, ranked second in the world behind China, has reached the wheelchair curling podium at every Paralympics since the sport’s addition in 2006. It won the first three gold medals and took bronze at the last two editions.

WATCH | Canada skip Ideson says he would love to find the magic earlier in matches

An eighth end come-back by Canada gave them a 6-5 victory over Sweden to remain undefeated at the Paralympic wheelchair mixed curling tournament at Milano Cortina 2026.
CBC

Canada tops Group B in ice hockey

In the Para ice hockey event, captain Tyler McGregor’s game-high three points helped Canada (3-0) complete a perfect round-robin campaign with a 4-1 victory over Czechia.

After a scoreless opening frame, goals from James Dunne and Vincent Boily gave Canada a lead it wouldn’t relent.

McGregor, who collected two assists in the contest, and Liam Hickey would add two more goals in the third period.

The win sets up a semifinal contest between Canada and Group A runner-up China on Friday at 2:05 p.m. ET.

On the other side of the bracket will be undefeated Group A winner and the reigning Paralympic champion United States taking on Czechia.

WATCH | Canada beats Czechia, tops Group B

It was a 4-1 victory over Czechia for Canada’s Para ice hockey team Tuesday moving them to a record of 3-0 claiming top spot in Pool B at Milano Cortina 2026. CBC

With files from CBC Sports’ Dion Caputi

Source CBC Sports Paralympics