Canada’s Natalie Wilkie skis to silver at Para nordic world championships in Norway

Canada’s Natalie Wilkie Secures Silver at Para Nordic Skiing World Championships

Natalie Wilkie, a three-time Paralympic champion from Salmon Arm, B.C., added another world championship medal to her collection on Wednesday at the Para nordic skiing world championships in Trondheim, Norway. Wilkie reached the sprint classic podium in the women’s standing category, finishing just 0.21 seconds behind Norwegian favourite Vilde Nilsen in the one-kilometre race. Nilsen captured gold with a time of three minutes 52.92 seconds in the six-woman final, with American Sydney Peterson claiming bronze.

Wilkie, a seven-time Paralympic medallist, is poised for more success at next year’s Milano-Cortina Winter Games following another standout season. The 24-year-old athlete claimed a pair of silvers at last month’s Para cross-country worlds in Toblach, Italy, finishing behind Nilsen in the 10km and 20km interval start freestyle events. She also secured two Para biathlon world titles last month in Pokljuka, Slovenia.

Competing in the LW8 classification for skiers with arm impairments, Wilkie faced adversity early in her career when she lost four fingers on her left hand in a workshop accident at school when she was 15. However, two years later, she made history by becoming Canada’s youngest athlete at the 2018 Paralympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, where she won a medal of every colour.

Wilkie’s determination and resilience have been evident throughout her career, and her recent success at the Para nordic skiing world championships in Trondheim is a testament to her talent and hard work. With the Winter Games on the horizon, Wilkie is undoubtedly a top contender for more podium finishes and inspiring performances in the coming years.