Looking back at 2018: Breaking records in PyeongChang

OTTAWA – The PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games was certainly one for the history books, as Canada took home 28 medals from South Korea, its best-ever result. 

Prior to this past March, Canada’s previous best Paralympic Winter Games was Vancouver 2010 with 19 medals. In PyeongChang, Canada’s superb athletes had matched that total with two days still left on the schedule. 

With 28 medals (eight gold, four silver, and 16 bronze), Canada finished second in the standings behind the United States. 

Several athletes won their first-ever Paralympic medals in PyeongChang to contribute to the total, while the veteran leaders of the team continued to sparkle on the biggest stage in para sport. 

Brian McKeever, already one of Canada’s greatest Paralympians in history, officially became the most decorated Winter Paralympian of all time by winning his 14th medal in the 20KM cross-country race on day three of the Games. He would go on to win three more in PyeongChang, for a current career total of 17 (13 of which are gold). 

Mark Arendz marched in with the flying red maple leaf for the Closing Ceremony, well earning his flag bearer title by capturing a record six medals – the most ever by a Canadian at a single Winter Games. He won those six medals across biathlon and cross-country skiing, including his first gold in what was his third Paralympic Games. 

Two skiers, competing in their first Games, made some Canadian history with their podium performances. Collin Cameron became the first Canadian male sit skier to win a medal in biathlon, while Alexis Guimond became the first Canadian man to land on the podium in standing Para alpine skiing since 1998. 

Mollie Jepsen started Canada’s winning ways, clinching the team’s first medal of the Games with a bronze in the women’s standing downhill race. She ultimately would capture four medals in her first Paralympics, the most by a Canadian female in PyeongChang. 

The ski hills weren’t the only place the country’s athletes etched their name in the record books. Canada’s wheelchair curlers secured another spot on the podium, adding to its reputation as one of the best nations in the world. 

Since the sport joined the Paralympic slate in 2006, Canada is the only country to have medalled at each Games since (gold in 2006, 2010, and 2014, and bronze in 2018).