McKeever, Wilkie, Turner win gold on six-medal day for Canada at Paralympics

BEIJING — Tyler Turner captured Canada's first ever Paralympic gold medal in snowboarding, while Brian McKeever skied to his 14th victory to highlight a six-medal day for Canada at the Beijing Games.

Natalie Wilkie also won gold.

Turner, a 33-year-old from Campbell River, B.C., who had his legs amputated after a skydiving accident in 2017, built a commanding lead in the snowboard cross big final to win gold.

Moments earlier, Lisa DeJong of Sherwood Park, Alta., won silver in the women's race.

McKeever, a 42-year-old from Calgary, easily defended his title in the men's 20-kilometre cross-country ski race.

It was the 18th medal for McKeever, who is making his sixth Paralympic appearance.

Wilkie, from Salmon Arm, B.C., won the women's 15-kilometre cross-country race, while teammate Brittany Hudak from Prince Albert, Sask., captured the bronze.

And Alpine skier Alana Ramsay captured her second medal of the Paralympics, winning bronze in super combined.

Canada has 12 medals through three days of the Games.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 7, 2022.