Background

National Ski Team Background:

On the 2025-26 Para biathlon World Cup circuit, Zaplotinsky earned the Crystal Globe for the first time in his career as the overall champion in the men’s sitting category. He also kicked off the Para cross country World Cup circuit with two bronze medals at the season opening event.

Also in cross country, he added four medals on the 2023-24 World Cup circuit and has three top-fives at the two worlds since Beijing 2022.

In Para biathlon, he captured gold in the sprint at the Paralympic Games World Cup test event in Val di Fiemme, Italy and was third overall on the circuit in 2023-24. He was a silver medallist in the 12.5 km at the 2025 Para biathlon worlds and posted two fourths a year earlier.

Zaplotinsky’s best result in three races at the Beijing 2022 Games was an eighth in the middle-distance event.

He competed in five races in his Paralympic Winter Games debut in 2018, with two top-10 finishes.

Introduction to Cross-Country Skiing:

Cross-country skiing wasn’t even on Zaplotinsky’s radar when he was first introduced to the sport. He first got involved as a cross training opportunity for hand cycling, but adapted quite quickly. Having grown up on a farm, he was attracted to the outdoor lifestyle of Para nordic skiing.

A triple medal performance at the Canada Games in 2015 (one gold, two silver) gave him the belief he could represent Canada in the sport internationally.

Personal:

Prior to his accident in 2006, Derek was enjoying life like any youngster – he finished secondary school and was at the height of his motocross career. Life changed in a blink of an eye with his accident and he struggled for years trying to adapt to the challenges he now faced. Skiing, and being a part of the team, has helped him overcome many obstacles and challenges along the way. Outside of skiing, he enjoys hand cycling, boating, sledding and hunting.