Background

National Ski Team Background: 

Xavier is one of Canada’s best young prospects who is participating in his third year on the National Ski Team. He first competed for Canada at the 2019 World Junior Ski Championships as a 15-year-old. Xavier then was part of Canada’s first-ever medal-winning relay team at the 2020 World Junior Championships that won the silver medal in Oberwiesenthal, Germany.   

Introduction to Cross-Country Skiing: 

Xavier was born into an Olympic and Paralympic family. Both of his parents – Milaine Theriault and Robin McKeever – are Olympic cross-country skiers, and his uncle Brian is Canada’s most decorated Winter Paralympian. 

Needless to say, Xavier’s love with the sport began when he was two years old. As he got older, he loved the sport so much that he got more involved and began to progress his way through the competitive pathway. 

Xavier has been making headlines for years; starting at age 11 when he won two gold medals at the Alberta Winter Games. At 15, he was selected to represent Canada at the World Junior Championships where he was the youngest competitor on the course. At 16, he skied the opening leg in Canada’s historic silver-medal winning relay team at the World Juniors – the first ever podium in the event for Canada at the World Championships of any level. Following another successful trip to the World Juniors this past year where he had two, top-six finishes, Xavier earned his fist starts on the World Cup. 

 Xavier has participated in a lot of different sports, but skiing has always been his passion. A member of the Alberta World Cup Academy, Xavier’s goals are focused – he wants to win a Crystal Globe one day, and an Olympic medal. 

Personal: 

In his spare time, Xavier enjoys hanging out with friends and playing other sports. He enjoys paddle boarding, passing a frisbee, and of course doing his favourite hobby; playing disc golf. Xavier loves travelling and 11 of his 19 birthdays have been celebrated on the road.