IBNS-CMEDIA: Natalie Wilkie from Salmon Arm, B.C., captured Canada‘s inaugural gold medal at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, dominating the women’s 12.5-kilometer standing biathlon on March 8.
The 25-year-old crossed the finish line in 33 minutes and 1.8 seconds without shooting penalties, as reported by CBC Sports.
Wilkie, who earned silver in the women’s standing sprint the previous day, outpaced China’s Zhao Zhiqing (silver, 33:33.5) and Ukraine’s Oleksandra Kononova (bronze, 33:37.9) in the individual event at the Tes Cross-Country Skiing venue.
“I applied [gold glitter] before the race, manifesting my intentions for the day. I wore my gold glasses and carried my gold poles; I was fully aware of what I wanted today,” Wilkie said afterward, as quoted by CBC Sports.
This marks Wilkie’s second medal of the Games, building on Canada’s strong opening day with silvers from Kalle Eriksson/Sierra Smith in para alpine skiing and Wilkie’s sprint, plus bronze for Kurt Oatway, per the Canadian Paralympic Committee.
Competing in the standing category due to partial vision impairment from retinoblastoma diagnosed at age five, Wilkie has risen rapidly in para-biathlon since her 2022 Paralympic debut.
(Reporting by Suman Das)
