Canadian Duo Eriksson & Smith Strike Bronze at Paralympic Winter Games, Wheelchair Curling Team Remains Undefeated
Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy – Kalle Eriksson and Sierra Smith of Canada added to their impressive Paralympic debut, securing a bronze medal in the men’s visually impaired super-G at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games on Monday. This comes after the pair won silver in the downhill event on Saturday, marking the first medal for Canada at the games. The duo finished the course in one minute 13.29 seconds.
Meanwhile, Canada’s wheelchair curling team continued its dominant run, defeating Latvia 11-1 to remain undefeated through three days of competition. The Canadian team, skipped by Mark Ideson, is now 4-0. In Para hockey, Canada routed Japan 14-0, securing a spot in the semifinals. Auren Halbert led the charge with four goals, even as Dominic Cozzolino scored a hat trick. Canada now has seven medals overall: one gold, three silver, and three bronze.
Canada’s Eriksson and Smith Strike Paralympic Gold, Wheelchair Curling Dominates
Canada’s Kalle Eriksson and guide Sierra Smith are making waves at the Milano-Cortina Paralympics, securing their second medal of the Games with a bronze in the men’s visually impaired super-G on Monday.
Eriksson and Smith’s Impressive Run
Finishing the course in a remarkable one minute 13.29 seconds at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Eriksson and Smith demonstrated exceptional skill, and determination.
Austria’s Johannes Aigner and Nico Haberl claimed gold in 1:11.99, narrowly edging out Italy’s Giacomo Bertagnolli and Andrea Ravelli by just 0.16 seconds.
Pro Tip: Effective guide-athlete communication is paramount in visually impaired alpine skiing, relying heavily on precise verbal cues and unwavering trust.
This bronze medal follows their silver win in the men’s visually impaired downhill event on Saturday, marking a stunning Paralympic debut for the Canadian duo.
“I’m not super pumped on my technical side of skiing,” Eriksson admitted after the race. “It was pretty messy out there on my finish. The gates stacked up really quickly, but we went out there and committed to it, and we came out across the line with a better result than I thought.”
Smith echoed this sentiment, stating, “We came into these Games with hopes and dreams. To be actually on the podium in our first two races, that’s what dreams are made of.”
Wheelchair Curling Team Remains Unbeaten
Canada’s wheelchair curling team continued its impressive streak, defeating Latvia 11-1 on Monday to remain undefeated in round-robin play.
Skip Mark Ideson, lead Collinda Joseph, second Ina Forrest, third Jon Thurston, and alternate Gilbert Dash showcased a dominant performance, stealing all 11 points in the match.
“I felt we came out strong right from the beginning,” Ideson commented. “We’ve position ourselves in a good situation early in the event, but it’s a marathon. There’s a lot of games still left to reach, so we’re continuing to build.”
Did you know? Ina Forrest is making history as the first wheelchair curler to compete in her fifth Paralympics.
Canada’s wheelchair curling team has consistently reached the podium since the sport’s inclusion in the Paralympics in 2006, winning the first three gold medals and taking bronze in the last two editions.
Challenges for Other Canadian Alpine Skiers
Day 3 presented challenges for other Canadian alpine medal hopefuls, with Alexis Guimond and Kurt Oatway both receiving a DNF (did not finish) in their respective super-G events.
Guimond skied off course halfway through his run in the men’s standing race, although Oatway hit a gate with his outrigger ski, forcing him to abandon his attempt.
Brian Rowland also registered a DNF in the men’s sitting category.
Canada’s Medal Count So Far
Through three days of competition, Canada boasts a total of seven medals: one gold, three silver, and three bronze.
Para Hockey Team Secures Semifinal Berth
Canada’s Para hockey team continued its dominant run, routing Japan 14-0 in a lopsided victory.
Auren Halbert scored four goals, while Dominic Cozzolino added a hat trick, leading a potent offensive display that saw seven different players find the net.
“We’re taking it game by game, but to know we’ve clinched a berth into the semifinals, it takes a little bit of pressure off and just excited to play again tomorrow,” Cozzolino stated.
Canada’s next challenge will be against Czechia on Tuesday at 12:05 p.m. ET.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the significance of the super-G event in Para alpine skiing? It combines the speed of downhill with the technical demands of slalom, making it a challenging and exciting discipline.
- How do guide skiers assist visually impaired athletes? Guide skiers provide verbal cues and navigate the course, ensuring the athlete can maintain speed and control.
- What is Canada’s history in Paralympic wheelchair curling? Canada has a strong tradition in wheelchair curling, winning multiple medals since the sport’s Paralympic debut.
Stay tuned to 247sports.new for continued coverage of the Milano-Cortina Paralympics. Explore more Paralympic coverage here.