Wilkie, Arendz, Zaplotinsky win Para biathlon World Cup Crystal Globe

JAKUSZYCE, Poland – With less than 40 days until the Winter Paralympics, Canada’s Para nordic skiers are on target for more multi medal performances in Milano Cortina in March.

On Sunday, Mark Arendz, Natalie Wilkie and Derek Zaplotinsky were crowned Crystal Globe champions for season overall titles at the Para biathlon World Cup Final.

It was a fifth overall title for Arendz, his third in a row and fourth in the past five seasons. For Wilkie and Zaplotinsky it was their first career season title.

Arendz, a 12-time Paralympic Games medallist over four Games from Hartsville, P.E.I, delivered the most dramatic finish winning gold in the 12.5 kilometre final Sunday in the men’s standing category.

Heading into the final race of the season, Benjamin Daviet of France held a six-point lead over Arendz. To successfully defend his Crystal Globe, the Canadian needed to finish at least two places ahead of his rival.

Both athletes shot flawlessly despite increasingly difficult wind conditions. Arendz was faster on the course, but his Crystal Globe triumph would not have been possible without an equally outstanding performance from Marco Maier. The German shot a perfect to finish just three seconds behind Arendz.

Crucially, Maier finished between Arendz and Daviet, tipping the overall standings in Arendz’s favour and securing his fifth Crystal Globe title in total.

‘’Today I was just hyper focused, there was one job,’’ said Arendz, a 12-time Games medallist with eight medals this season on the circuit including five wins.  ‘’To shoot clean and put myself in a position and fight for the overall title. I knew it was going to be tight.

‘’ On the last lap the coaches told me the situation and I’m thrilled I was able to be on such a high-class podium.

‘’Now it’s time to get ready and have some fun in March (at the Paralympic Winter Games).’’

Wilkie, from Salmon Arm, B.C., once again demonstrated flawless shooting to claim her sixth victory of the season in the women’s standing 12.5 kilometre.

She finished 42 seconds ahead of Ukraine’s Liudmyla Liashenko while Brittany Hudak of Prince Albert, Sask., was third.

Wilkie, 25, posted six victories this season on the circuit, including four straight wins to open the season.  The seven-time Games medallist was second overall last winter

Meanwhile Hudak, collected four medals this season to place second overall in the Crystal Globe standings. The three-time Paralympian was also second two seasons ago.

Zaplotinsky, from Smokey Lake, Alta.,  was a model of consistency this season with top-10 finishes in his eight races this to win the men’s sitting title. He was third overall two seasons ago.

‘’This is the one prize I’ve been trying to get,’’ said Zaplotinsky, primed for a third Paralympics next month. ‘’I’ve had a few medals over the past couple of years but to get first overall is very exciting.’’

Germany won the Para Biathlon Nations Cup, with Canada finishing second, 37 points behind and the U.S. third.

At the last two Paralympic Winter Games, Canada’s Para nordic skiers have won 12 medals at Beijing 2022 and 16 at PyeongChang 2018.

The 2026 Paralympic Winter Games are March 6-15 in Milano Cortina.