Collin Cameron Claims Third Medal at Para-Nordic World Cup in Germany

ALTENBERG, Ger.— Canada’s Collin Cameron added to his medal haul in Germany, winning his third straight medal, at the Para-Nordic World Cup on Friday – this time in the biathlon sit-skiing sprint distance race.

Feeding off one bronze and one silver finish in the cross-country ski events earlier this week, the former sledge hockey player from Sudbury, Ont. completed the medal hat trick after a stopping the clock at 14:53.2 in the five-kilometre race.

“Today was great. I woke up basically on the edge of getting sick so I’m really happy I was able to ski well,” said the 31-year-old Paralympian. “I have to give a lot of credit to our wax team today. With the conditions, I’ve been racing on rock skis here, and they’ve been working their magic to make them really fast.”

Despite missing his last shot, Cameron was nearly perfect through the blowing wind conditions on the range to secure his spot on the podium. With little snow and marginal conditions, there was no penalty loop for missed shots. Athletes were docked 20 second penalties for each miss.

“I am stoked with my range procedure today. It was really gusty at times, and I timed my shots really well. I think I tried to rush that last shot to get out of the range and it cost me,” said Cameron. “Considering the lack of snow here, organizers have done a really amazing job keeping our racecourse alive.”

Cameron, who is a cross-country sprint specialist, found his groove in the biathlon competitions following two bronze medals at the 2018 Paralympic Games and one more silver in the same 12.5-kilometre discipline at last year’s World Championships. Friday’s triumph was his fourth World Cup podium in biathlon and second this year.

He shared the podium with Russia’s Ivan Golubkov who won the gold with a time of 14:17.4 (2+1), and Daniel Cnossen, of the United States, who locked up the silver medal after completing the course with a time of 14:27.6 (0+0).

Derek Zaplotinsky, of Smoky Lake, Alta., was seventh in the men’s sit-ski classification with a time of 15:44.9 (0+2).

In the men’s standing division Canada’s eight-time Paralympic medallist, Mark Arendz, was hunting down the podium, but two uncharacteristic misses on the range combined with a crash dropped him to fifth place. Arendz, of Hartsville, P.E.I., stopped the clock at 11:58.0 (2+0). Kyler Barber, of Sudbury, Ont., was 10th at 14:28.8 (2+1). Jesse Ehman rounded out the Canadian contingent in 11th at 15:01.9 (0+2).

A trio of Canadian women suited up for the women’s standing biathlon race. North Vanouver’s Emily Young was charging towards the podium, but a miss in her final round of shooting dropped her into fifth place. Young clocked-in at 13:42.1 (0+1).

Brittany Hudak, of Prince Albert, Sask., was eighth at 14:13.2 (1+2). Natalie Wilkie, of Salmon Arm, B.C., was docked 20 second penalties for a missed shot in each of her two stops at the range, en route to placing ninth at 14:17.7 (1+1).

Russia’s Ekaterina Rumyantseva won the classification with a time of 12:33.6.

Complete Para-Nordic Results:https://www.paralympic.org/nordic-skiing/live-results/info-live-results/NS0A20/eng/zz/engzz_general-general-schedule.htm

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