Vilde Nilsen, of Norway, and Natalie Wilkie, of Canada, left, compete in the para cross-country women's sprint, classic standing, at the Nordic World Ski Championships in Trondheim, Norway, Wednesday, March 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

CALGARY — Decorated skiers Mark Arendz and Natalie Wilkie lead Canada's Para nordic ski team into the Milan Cortina Paralympic Games.

Canada's 15-skier team bound for the Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium in Fiemme Valley was announced Friday in Calgary.

The Paralympic Games run March 6-15 after the Olympic Games in Italy.

Arendz of Hartsville, P.E.I., owns a dozen Paralympic medals in both cross-country skiing and biathlon, including two gold, and heads to his fifth Winter Games.

Wilkie of Salmon Arm, B.C., is a triple Paralympic champion with seven career medals heading to her third.

Nordic skiers won 14 of Canada's 25 medals in Beijing in 2022, and a record 16 of Canada's 28 in 2018 in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

Brian McKeever is the coach of the 2026 edition after earning 20 medals over six Paralympic Games as an athlete.

"If they can cross that finish line and know that they've had their best race on that day, then I'll be incredibly proud of that," McKeever said.

Brittany Hudak of Prince Albert, Sask., will be a co-captain of Canada's Paralympic team in her fourth Games.

Collin Cameron of Bracebridge, Ont., also heads to his fourth Paralympic Games after earning three bronze medals Beijing.

Wilkie and Hudak ranked first and second respectively in the world in women's standing biathlon this season.

The 25-year-old Wilkie, who is missing four fingers on her right hand, has worked hard on her biathlon skills since Beijing.

"The skiing has always been there with the cross-country but the shooting, I found it to be quite difficult," Wilkie said.

"It's definitely been building over the last couple of years and winning the overall globe this year was a pretty big achievement.

"Heading into this Games, I'm definitely hoping for a few podiums in biathlon, but we'll see what happens."

Wilkie and Arendz, who is missing his left arm below the elbow, will each compete in half a dozen races in Italy.

"I want to be physically mentally ready to perform and also ready to have the fun of the experience," said Arendz.

"A race is kind of like you're just gathering a hand of cards.

"It's about your preparation, and that's the quality of the cards. Once you cross the finish line, you just put that hand down and see if someone can beat it."

Arendz won this season's men's World Cup biathlon crown in the standing category.

Derek Zaplotinsky of Smoky Lake, Alta., took the season title in men's sitting biathlon. The 40-year-old is paralyzed from the waist down.

Emma Archibald of Fall River, N.S., Lyne-Marie Bilodeau of Sherbrooke, Que., Christina Picton of Fonthill, Ont., Madison Mullin of Fergus, Ont., and her guide Brooke Ailey of Thunder Bay, Ont., round out the women's team.

Jesse Bachinsky of Kenora, Ont., and guide Levi Nadlersmith of Boissevain, Man., Logan Lariviere of Sudbury, Ont., and guide Joe Hutton of Lakeside, Ont., and Vancouver's Leo Sammarelli complete the men's team.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 30, 2026.

News from © The Canadian Press, 2026