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Para nordic athletes are grateful after competing in their first relays together

Melissa Akgez
March 14, 2026

Teams place 5th in mixed and 12th in open cross country skiing events

The Canadian Team for the Cross Country Ski Open Relay at the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games in Val di Fiemme on Saturday, March 14, 2026. CANADIAN PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE, Michael P. Hall

TESERO, Italy – Canada’s Para nordic cross country skiers participated in the mixed and open relay races on Saturday.

Derek Zaplotinsky, Collin Cameron, Natalie Wilkie, Mark Arendz finished the mixed 4×2.5km relay in fifth place (24:15.1).

“It’s a unique opportunity. We don’t have a lot of relays or team events within Para and to take hold of those opportunities is really special,” said Arendz, from Hartsville, P.E.I., at his fifth career Games.

“It means a lot more. It is an individual sport, but you do a lot of the training together, you spend a lot of time on the road together, and you have a lot of shared experiences. Those experiences kind of forge the strength that you have on the team relay and I think that’s really special.”

The USA won the gold, Ukraine got the silver, and China the bronze.

Logan Lariviere and guide Joseph Hutton, Jesse Bachinsky and guide Levi Nadlersmith, Emma Archibald, and Madison Mullin and her guide Brooke Ailey competed in the open 4×2.5km relay placing 10th (26:40.2). 

It was an all rookie team.

“It was really good. It was a lot of fun,” said Mullin. “I was a little bit nervous because I didn’t want to mess up, but it’s nice that we’re all in this together, we’re all trying to do the same thing and still go as fast as we can and maybe get a personal best or whatever on this course. 

“Love this team and how the four of us got to do it together.”

Bachinsky, from Kenora, Ont., enjoyed the experience.

“Today it was not about me, today it was for the team,” he said. “We got to do our first relay together and that’s super important. We had a great race, the conditions were really nice, I think everyone was able to push hard and do their best. 

“I feel super honoured to be here with all you guys. Just really grateful. I feel like we’re one big family.”

China finished first, while Germany placed second, and Norway won third.

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