Austria – Canadian Paralympic champion Kurt Oatway is off to one of the best starts of his 10+ year career on the Para alpine skiing World Cup circuit.
The 40-year-old Calgarian reached the podium in all three races at the season opening event this week capped with a golden performance in the men’s sitting Super G on Friday. He also took silver medals in the first Super G on Wednesday and the super combined on Thursday.
“Three World Cup races and three podiums is a great way to start the season,” said Oatway, the Super G Paralympic Games champion in 2018. “I had good results the last few Super G races and just gave it my all today.’’ Oatway made his Games debut in 2014 in Sochi but missed the last Games in Beijing due to injury.
‘’It’s been a few years since my last World Cup win, so this feels good. Our coach, Will Marshall, set the course and that seemed to work well for me, so thanks Will.’’ Kalle Ericsson of Kimberley, B.C. and guide Sierra Smith of Ottawa made it two trips to the podium with a bronze in the men’s Super G for the visually impaired. They took bronze in the combined.
Michaela Gosselin of Collingwood, Ont. also returns home a multi-medallist after a bronze in the women’s standing Super G on Friday. She took silver in the combined.
Paralympian Mike Sametz named to AthletesCAN Board of Directors
Mike Sametz of Calgary, a two-time Paralympian in Para cycling is one of two new members appointed to the 2024-25 AthletesCAN Board of Directors.
A national team member since 2014, Sametz won the gold medal in the road time trial at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio. He is also a two-time world champion in the event. He was scheduled to compete at the 2024 Paralympics Games before a training accident in Paris on Opening Ceremony day resulted in a hip fracture.
Off the bike, Sametz holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) from the University of Calgary. He is passionate about high-performance sport and ensuring it is accessible and safe for everyone. He currently is an Athlete Mentor with Classroom Champions and an Ambassador for Project REDs.
Canada faces Czechia in semifinals at Para Hockey Cup
In Charlottetown, Canada faces Czechia in the semifinals at the Para Hockey Cup, featuring the top-four countries in the world.
The world champion Canadians went 2-1 in the preliminary round. They beat the Czechs 9-2 and China 7-1 then fell 5-3 to the U.S. At the International Para Hockey Cup in October, Canada defeated the Czechs 1-0 in overtime in the semifinal en route to the silver.