Canadian Para biathlete Mark Arendz continued his winning ways to open the World Cup season on Thursday, taking home gold in the men’s standing 7.5-kilometre sprint event in Vuokatti, Finland.
The two-time Paralympic biathlon champion from Hartsville, P.E.I., shot clean in both rounds and finished 12 seconds ahead of runner-up Serhii Romaniuk of Ukraine with a time of 19 minutes 15.5 seconds.
The 34-year-old Arendz captured the men’s overall World Cup title last season after going undefeated. He is an eight-time Paralympic medallist in the discipline.
WATCH l Arendz looks to level up this season:
Canadian Para biathlete is motivated by last season’s success.
Fellow Canadian Natalie Wilkie also started the season strong in Vuokatti with a bronze medal in the women’s standing event. The 23-year-old from Salmon Arm, B.C., finished the race in 21:44.7, hitting eight of 10 targets across the two rounds.
China’s Guo Yujie (21:13.9) topped the podium, while Ukraine’s Liudmyla Liashenko edged Wilkie for silver with a time of 21:41.8.
Prince Albert, Sask.’s Brittany Hudak placed sixth (22:10.5).
Collin Cameron of Bracebridge, Ont., returned to biathlon World Cup racing on Thursday after struggling with injuries last summer. The 36-year-old clocked 23:49.4 to finish fifth in the men’s sitting event after missing two shots.
Smoky Lake, Alta., native Derek Zaplotinsky finished two spots behind Cameron in 24:13.1.
Canada’s Para biathletes will return to action for the 12.5km individual races on Saturday.
