Canadian Paralympic Committee CEO Karen O’Neill acknowledged Canada’s showing on the Milan Cortina Paralympics wasn’t the identical as past years.
Canada finished eighth within the gold-medal standings with just three. As for total medals, Canada placed sixth (4 silver, eight bronze). As compared, Canada had 25 medals, with eight golds, on the 2022 Beijing Games, ending third within the gold-medal standings for the fourth consecutive Paralympics.
O’Neill was quick to say how proud she was of the group, while also citing aspects comparable to “accidents and injuries,” together with Russia being back within the fold. The Russians earned 12 medals, with eight gold — only China (15 gold) and america (13 gold) finished ahead.
“A bit of bit different but still really, really pleased with how the team has done,” O’Neill said. “I’d say it’s also testimony to how quickly and the way evolving the competitive level is world wide for the Paralympics without delay.
“I’m going to say we’ve had a record variety of top-five, top-eight (finishes) and it’s just a very good moment to see how much the world is catching up and in addition what the competition levels appear like.”
As for the longer term, O’Neill emphasized the importance of constructing strong performances “repeatable.” She pointed to first-time medallists in judging the strength of the talent pool, in addition to top-five and top-eight finishes.
But one matter, which has been a hot topic in national sporting circles, also earned a mention.
“Continuing with what we’re doing, investment goes to be key,” O’Neill said. “We’re grateful incredibly for the federal government investment and company investment, but we actually need to take a position more if we’re going to proceed to perform on the world stage.
“It’s obvious from being here with the form of attention and intention for most of the countries world wide that we’ve really got to proceed grow our sport in Canada, spend money on sport and proceed so as to add what has already been some good investment, but (it) must probably go up a pair levels, of course, for us to proceed to be competitive on the world stage.”
O’Neill’s call for investment echoed that of Canadian Olympic Committee CEO David Shoemaker after the Olympics, which saw Canada finish eighth in the general medal count with 21 — with Russia out of the fold.
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O’Neill said the funding helps get athletes to competitions, with training, hiring world-class coaches and talent to assist the athletes and sustain with standard of apparatus for competition.
“As an overall sports system, the core funding has not increased for in regards to the last, it’s almost 18 years now,” she said. “So what you’ve is many sport organizations attempting to do rather a lot more with less. And so when that core funding doesn’t increase, it’s tough to proceed to compete on the world stage.
“What I’d say at a core funding level, we’d like to at the very least make that whole. And quite truthfully, we realize it’s going to take increased funding for the system and in addition the athletes for them to give you the option to participate fully and with none concern.”
Nordic ski star Natalie Wilkie shone brightest for Canada with 4 medals, and two of three gold — with the wheelchair curling team winning the opposite. Fellow nordic ski star Mark Arendz added two bronze, while Para alpine skier Kalle Eriksson, and guide Sierra Smith earned three medals of their Paralympic debut.
Canada’s ice hockey team took silver Sunday, while Michaela Gosselin and Kurt Oatway each added alpine bronze, Brittany Hudak earned a nordic skiing bronze and Tyler Turner grabbed bronze in the boys’s snowboard cross. Turner, who entered because the reigning champion, got tousled in the ultimate but was awarded bronze after Japan’s Junta Kosuda was disqualified for causing the collision.
Canada also potentially lost out on a few medals on account of six-time medallist and alpine star Mollie Jepsen exiting the Games early on account of a knee injury.
O’Neill pointed to the atmosphere following Canada’s curling win — its first gold within the event since 2014 and fourth since its inception in 2006 — for instance of sport’s importance in Canada.
“There wasn’t a dry eye in the home,” she said. “So while you really take a look at the impact and the facility of sport especially within the form of world we’re in today, it just transcends any form of boundaries or differences we perceive on a day-to-day basis and really unites us.
“And I’d say as a rustic we’d like it greater than ever. And the investment into probably a few of one of the best representatives and ambassadors on behalf of Canada are these terrific athletes here.”
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