Mark Arendz of Hartsville, PEI, an 11-time Paralympic medallist, led a triple podium Canadian performance with gold in the men’s standing 10 kilometre cross country race Wednesday at the season opening Para nordic World Cup competition in Toblach, Italy.
Brittany Hudak of Prince Albert, Sask. added silver in the women’s 10 kilometre standing event while Derek Zaplotinsky of Smoky Lake, Alta. collected a bronze in the men’s sitting 10 kilometre.
In Veysonnaz, Switzerland, the amazing World Cup debut continued for Kalle Ericsson of Kimberley, B.C. and his guide Sierra Smith of Ottawa. They collected their third medal this week, placing second in the men’s visually impaired slalom. In the giant slalom races on Monday and Tuesday they took silver and bronze.
Meanwhile at the Australian Open wheelchair tennis tournament in Melbourne, Rob Shaw of North Bay, Ont. was eliminated in the quad singles quarterfinals. He lost Tuesday to fourth seed Guy Sasson of Israel 6-4, 6-2.
However the Canadian Parapan Am Games silver medallist, currently ranked ninth in the world, bounced back later in the day to advance to the semis in men’s doubles with Australian partner Heath Davidson. The second seeds defeated Finn Broadbent of Australia and Gregory Slade of Great Britain 6-0, 6-0.
Shaw and Davidson face American David Wagner and UK’s Andy Lapthorne on Thursday.
