Canada's McKeever, Wilkie golden once again at Beijing Paralympics

BEIJING — Canada's Brian McKeever and Natalie Wilkie raced to cross-country skiing gold medals at the Beijing Paralympics on Wednesday.

McKeever, a 42-year-old from Canmore, Alta., captured his 15th Paralympic gold -- and 19th medal of his illustrious career -- in the sprint race for visually impaired skiers.

He and guide Russell Kennedy, who have at least one more race and potentially two remaining, had a strong finishing kick for a time of three minutes 19.5 seconds.

Wilkie, a 21-year-old from Salmon Arm, B.C., captured her second gold of the Games, and fifth Paralympic medal, in the standing sprint race, crossing in 4:05.1, three seconds faster than Norway's Vilde Nilsen.

Collin Cameron of Bracebridge, Ont., won his second bronze medal of the Beijing Games, in the sitting cross-country sprint, in a time of 2:46.3 for his fifth career Paralympic medal.

Canada is third in total medals through five days of the Games with 16, including seven gold. China leads with 31. Ukraine has 19 medals, including six gold.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 9, 2022.