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Get in TouchCalgary, Alberta (March 7, 2026) —Canada’s National Ski Team got the party started today at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games with Kalle Eriksson (Kimberley, BC), and guide Sierra Smith (Ottawa, ON), racing to Canada’s first medal of the Games, and Kurt Oatway (Calgary, AB) following up with a bronze medal performance.
Racing downhill on the classic course in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Eriksson and Smith, competing in men vision impaired, in their first Paralympic Games start, had two strong training sessions earlier in the week finishing third in both before taking silver in today’s race.
“My heart is pounding and I can’t believe it!” said Eriksson. “I’m full of adrenalin. I wasn’t expecting this medal from us today and I’m really proud and thrilled with how we skied.”
“We’re always working on our connection on the ski hill,” added Smith. “We want to race down the hill as one, as the closer we work together the faster we’ll go. We really executed well today.”
Oatway racing in men sitting, competing in his third Games after missing the 2022 Beijing Games due to injury, claimed his second Paralympic medal to go along with a gold medal in the super-G in PyeongChang 2018.
“It was tough conditions today with snow being pretty soft,” said Oatway. “I focused on being gentle with my edges today because if you’re too hard on your edge the surface will blow out underneath you and your race will be over.”
Mollie Jepsen (West Vancouver, BC), a six-time Paralympic medalist in women’s standing competing in her third Games, just missed another podium finishing fourth today.
“I really love this track but I’m not 100% physically healthy so it was a little heartbreaking that I wasn’t able to ski the way I wanted today,” said Jepsen. “The energy here is amazing! It couldn’t be a better environment with all my family and friends here.”
Michaela Gosselin (Collingwood, ON), also racing in women’s standing, in her second Games, matched her result from Beijing 2022 with a fifth-place finish today. Other Canadians in action today were Alexis Guimond (Gatineau, QC), men’s standing, and Brian Rowland (Merrickville, ON) men sitting, with both not finishing their runs.
Paralympic racing continues:
March 9: Super-G
March 10: Alpine Combined
March 12: Women’s Giant Slalom
March 13: Men’s Giant Slalom
March 14: Women’s Slalom
March 15: Men’s Slalom
Watch coverage of the 2026 Paralympic Games on CBC.
Follow Canada’s Ski Team this season on Alpine Canada’s website , across our social media accounts and subscribe to our newsletter here.
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For more information or media inquiries please contact:
Mark Halliday
Alpine Canada
403 777 3204
media@alpinecanada.org
About Alpine Canada
Alpine Canada is the governing body for alpine, para-alpine, and ski cross racing in Canada, as well as for Canadian ski coaches, providing education, certification, insurance, and compliance with the coaching code of conduct. With the support of valued corporate partners and donors, along with the Government of Canada, Own the Podium, the Canadian Olympic Committee, and the Coaching Association of Canada, Alpine Canada develops Olympic, Paralympic, World Championship, and World Cup athletes to stimulate visibility, inspiration, and growth in the ski community.