Mark
Arendz

Mark Arendz carried the Canadian flag into the Closing Ceremony of the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games following a historic six-medal performance where he reached the podium in every event he started. 

Arendz set a record for winning the most medals by a Winter Paralympian in one Games with a gold, two silvers and three bronze.

He posted his first Paralympic title in the 15-kilometre biathlon race, added silver in the cross-country mixed relay and 7.5-kilometre biathlon along with bronze in the sprint and 10-kilometre cross country races, and 12.5-kilometre biathlon.

He hasn’t slowed down since. He was a triple medallist at the 2022 Paralympic Winter Games in Beijing and marched to the podium four times at the 2023 Para nordic World Championships.

He continued his torrid pace after the PyeongChang Games in 2019 with a six-medal haul at the World Para Nordic Skiing Championships on home snow in Prince George, B.C. 

Arendz was Canada‘s big star at the 2017 World Championships earning five medals. He won three in the biathlon: gold in the 12.5 kilometre and 7.5 kilometre standing and silver in the 15 kilometre. This was paired with two more medals in cross country: bronze in the 10 kilometre and 4X2.5 kilometre relay open. It was a first-ever worlds medal for Canada in the relay.

He was shut out of the medals at the previous worlds in 2015.

Arendz was one of Canada’s busiest athletes at the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi.  He competed in five events (two cross country skiing and three biathlon events).  He earned two medals in biathlon with silver in the 7.5 kilometre standing and bronze in the 12.5 kilometre standing.  Arendz’s silver was Canada’s best-ever result in biathlon at the Games.

The medals were his first Paralympic podiums. 

He entered the 2014 Sochi Paralympics as the reigning World Cup biathlon champion and the world champion in the 7.5 km biathlon sprint.

He was a member of the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic team and has continued to rise in the international standings ever since. He produced a breakthrough season in 2010-11, ranking second overall in the IPC World Cup standings collecting three gold, two silver and a bronze. He showed in 2011-2012 that season was no fluke, earning two gold, two silver and two bronze on the World Cup, which again, ranked him second overall.

In 2012-13, Arendz captured his first career IPC Biathlon World Cup Crystal Globe. He earned four podium finishes on the circuit, in addition to racking up three World Championship medals including his first victory at the worlds. 

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 Paralympic Winter Games: three medals in 2022, six medals in 2018, two medals in 2014… 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2023 World Championships: four medals in 2023 six medals in 2019, five medals at 2017, three medals in 2013… 2024 Para biathlon World Championships… Named P.E.I.’s male athlete of the year in 2013 and 2014… Named to the Order of P.E.I…. 

PERSONAL
Arendz lost his left arm above the elbow in a farming accident at age seven. After his accident he worked for the War Amps organization as a junior counsellor. He used his experiences to teach others about farm safety. While the accident was initially a major shock, it did not deter him from pursuing his love for sport and competition.

Started skiing at age five in his backyard…started his competitive career with a ski prosthetic in able-bodied events… inspired to compete in biathlon after watching 2002 Winter Olympics… Within a year was on local cadet biathlon team…was on first PEI biathlon team to medal at nationals.

In 2014, he volunteered for SchoolBox and that spring travelled as a member of the non-profit group to Nicaragua to help build a school for a community ravaged by landslides.
 

NOTABLE INTERNATIONAL RESULTS

2024  Para biathlon World Championships – 7.5 km – 1st

2023 World Championships – 10 km biathlon – 1st

2023 World Championships – 12.5 km biathlon – 1st

2023 World Championships – 7.5 km biathlon – 2nd

2023 World Championships – 10 km cross country – 1st

2022 Paralympic Games – 10 km biathlon – 1st

2022 Paralympic Games – 12.5 km biathlon – 2nd

2022 Paralympic Games – 7.5 km biathlon – 3rd

2022 Paralympic Games – 20 km cross country – 4th

2022 Paralympic Games – 12.5 km cross country – 7th

2019 World Championships – biathlon long distance – 2nd 

2019 World Championships – cross country middle distance – 2nd 

2019 World Championships – cross country mixed relay – 2nd 

2019 World Championships – biathlon middle distance – 3rd 

2019 World Championships – biathlon sprint – 3rd 

2019 World Championships – cross country long distance – 3rd 

2018 Paralympic Games – 15 km biathlon – 1st

2018 Paralympic Games – cross country mixed relay – 2nd 

2018 Paralympic Games – 7.5 km biathlon – 2nd 

2018 Paralympic Games – 12.5 km biathlon – 3rd 

2018 Paralympic Games – sprint cross country – 3rd 

2018 Paralympic Games – 10 km cross country – 3rd 

2017 Para-Nordic World Championships – 12.5 km biathlon – 1st

2017 Para-Nordic World Championships – 7.5 km biathlon – 1st

2017 Para-Nordic World Championships – 15 km biathlon – 2nd

2017 Para-Nordic World Championships – 10 km cross country – 3rd

2017 Para-Nordic World Championships – 2.5 km cross country relay – 3rd

2014 Paralympic Winter Games – 7.5 km biathlon – 2nd

2014 Paralympic Winter Games – 12.5 km biathlon – 3rd

2013 Para-Nordic World Championships – 7.5 km biathlon – 1st

2013 Para-Nordic World Championships – 12.5 km biathlon – 3rd 

2013 Para-Nordic World Championships – 15 km biathlon – 3rd 

2010 Paralympic Winter Games – 3 km pursuit biathlon – 7th

2010 Paralympic Winter Games  – 4X2.5 km cross country relay – 7th