Team support keeps Collin Cameron committed to Para nordic skiing comeback

CANMORE, Alta. – It doesn’t take an expert to decipher that Canada’s Para nordic skiing team is a top-notch professional outfit.

Whether it is while training on the Frozen Thunder Loop in Canmore, Alta. or relaxing in the Nordiq Canada offices next door, the athletes – whether they are veterans or newcomers to the team – seem to be in constant communication.

Meanwhile head coach Brian McKeever shows what true leadership is all about, inquiring about each of athletes on their day and their concerns. That’s a visual glimpse of why Canada’s Para nordic skiing team has been a world superpower for over a decade.

Statistically it is confirmed: at the last three Paralympic Winter Games, Canada’s Para nordic skiing athletes have compiled 36 medals including 16 in 2018 and 14 more in 2022. The numbers are equally impressive at world championships and World Cups over the same period.

If you want to dive deeper, you can talk to two-time Paralympian Collin Cameron, who has seen his past two seasons ravaged by illness and injuries.

With six Paralympic Games medals and two world titles in his pocket in men’s Para nordic sit skiing, it would be easy for Cameron to stroke his greying beard and call it a day in the sport and move on to the next chapter in his life.

But the one constant for Cameron in his competitive career has been the tight-knit Canadian Para nordic team. He credits the group and McKeever for providing stability and mentorship through his difficult stretch.

‘’There’s a huge impact from having that support,’’ said Cameron, 35, born with arthrogryposis. ‘’Whether it is injury or illness, we know we have the team behind us.

‘’Being centralized in Canmore brings us closer not just as teammates but as friends.’’

It was a prolonged shoulder injury that forced him to sit out the entire 2024-25 season, a break he says was necessary for his career and his everyday life.

‘’It was just getting to the point where I couldn’t manage it,’’ said Cameron, who was born in Barrie, Ont. and grew up in Bracebridge, Ont. “I didn’t want to just keep injecting it with cortisone, I opted to take the time off and get treatment. I didn’t do anything with my arm for a whole month.’’

McKeever is convinced nothing is going to stop Cameron from being on the start line for the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games.

‘’Collin is one of the most competitive people I’ve ever met,’’ said McKeever, a 20-time Paralympic Winter Games medallist including 16 gold. ‘’But it’s an interesting competitiveness. You put a bib on him, he’s an animal. When he’s not racing, he’s just gentle and empathetic.’’

While Cameron credits his surroundings for keeping his motivation high, McKeever points out that Cameron is a contributor to the team’s culture.

‘’He’s just a very good teammate,’’ said McKeever. ‘’He’s always willing to take some time to work with a development skier, especially in sit skiing. He sees the value that he brings because he saw the value he was given by others.’’

Cameron would love nothing more than to share a gold medal victory in the relay event at the Games in Milano Cortina.

‘’I’d love to be part of that team again,’’ he said. ‘’We have some of the best athletes in the field. I know we can go and win that relay. Individually I’ve always been a sprinter, that’s still my goal.’’

But most importantly right now his focus is simple: stay healthy, maintain his patience and assure his shoulder can withstand the demands of elite racing. He is ready for both the cross country and biathlon events. He says his shooting is not affected by the injury.

“I think about the injury. But I’ve put in the work. My body doesn’t forget that.”