Paralympic wake-up call: McKeever, Wilkie push late for Para cross-country gold medals

Two Canadian athletes of distinct generations came from behind to strike gold at the Beijing Paralympics on Wednesday.

42-year-old five-time Paralympian Brian McKeever captured the 15th Paralympic title of his decorated career with a men's visually impaired cross-country skiing sprint win.

Shortly before that, two-time Paralympian Natalie Wilkie, who is half McKeever's age, won the women's standing Para cross-country skiing sprint event for her fifth career medal.

Both athletes had to push late in their races to collect Canada's sixth and seventh top prizes in Beijing.

McKeever, of Canmore, Alta., overtook American Jake Adicoff, 26, to finish less than a second ahead of him with a time of three minutes 19.5 seconds.

It was the 19th overall medal claimed by the legendary Paralympian, who's set to retire after these Games. In Beijing, McKeever also won the men's visually impaired 20-kilometre cross-country race on Monday.

WATCH l McKeever adds to his legacy with 15th Paralympic gold medal:

Wilkie displayed a similar fortitude in her event.

The Salmon Arm, B.C., native was able to cut through the big lead Vilde Nilsen of Norway established early in the race to pass her in the final metres for a time of four minutes 5.1 seconds, 3 seconds faster than silver medallist Nilsen.

It was the 21-year-old's second gold medal in Beijing, following a women's standing 15km cross-country skiing title on Monday. In PyeongChang 2018, Wilkie captured a medal of each colour as Team Canada's youngest Paralympian.

Read more about McKeever's 15th Paralympic gold medal and Wilkie's 2nd gold medal in Beijing.

WATCH l Canada's Wilkie skis to 2nd gold medal of the Beijing Paralympics:

On a sportsmanship note, both McKeever and Wilkie made sure