12 Days of Triumph: Collin Cameron is now a world champion

For this holiday season, we will be celebrating some of our favourite sport memories from throughout the year. Canada’s Para athletes achieved a lot in 2019, and we will be remembering one performance each day for 12 days.

Collin Cameron grabbed his share of the spotlight on Canada’s powerful Para nordic skiing team in 2019.

Cameron, a podium regular since he joined the national team in 2016, reached the top step at the World Para Nordic Skiing Championships in Prince George, B.C., this past February. He was crowned world champion in the men’s sit skiing cross country sprint event.

His past successes have often been overshadowed by the historic performances of Brian McKeever and Mark Arendz but not on February 18, 2019. With the spectator banks awash with Canadian flags, Cameron produced the race of his life.

‘’It is a dream come true,” he said after his victory. “I’ve honestly been dreaming about this day since Korea [the 2018 Paralympic Games where he won three bronze medals].’’
 

Cameron, 31, was born with arthrogryposis, a condition that causes a shortening of the lower limbs, and an under-development of muscles and tendons in the legs.

He said the atmosphere before the home audience in Prince George pushed him to new heights.

“It’s extra special for sure. You’ve got all this crowd, the volunteers, the locals out here cheering for you. It gives you a little bit of power that you might need to cross the line.”

Overall it was a great season for Cameron. At the worlds he also collected silver medals in the biathlon men’s sitting middle-distance and the cross-country mixed relay. In two World Cup appearances he added a gold in a cross-country sprint and bronze in a biathlon pursuit.

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12 Days of Triumph: Frederique Turgeon
12 days of Triumph: Stefan Daniel
12 days of Triumph: Rob Shaw
12 days of Triumph: Sandrine Hamel
12 days of Triumph: Women’s wheelchair basketball team
12 days of Triumph: Brent Lakatos
12 days of Triumph: Brian McKeever