Arendz caps productive World Cup for Canadian Para nordic skiers with medal

ALTENBERG, Germany – Canada won seven medals in cross-country skiing and biathlon races this past week at the second stop on the Para nordic World Cup circuit capped with a silver by Mark Arendz on Saturday.

Determined to bounce back after a subpar result in Friday’s race, the 29-year-old Arendz had a near perfect day on the skis and in the range to post a second-place time of 10:45.4 in the men’s standing sprint biathlon race.

“It was much better today, and I finally felt like myself skiing again,” said Arendz, a six-time Paralympic Games medallist in PyeongChang in 2018. “I made uncharacteristic mistakes (on Friday) and they taught me harsh lessons. 

“It has been a very challenging week, but to cap it off in this kind of style felt great.”

Russia’s Vladislav Lekomtsev also shot clean to top Arendz for the gold in 10:26.2. Ukraine’s Ihor Reptyukh held on for bronze at 11:05.8.

Also this week, Collin Cameron of Sudbury, Ont., had one silver and two bronze, Brian McKeever and his guide Graham Nishikawa of Canmore, Alta., added a gold and silver, and Natalie Wilkie of Salmon Arm, B.C. also had a bronze.