Canadian Paralympic Committee CEO acknowledges dip in medal standings, calls for added investment

Canadian Paralympic Committee CEO Karen O'Neill acknowledges the team’s showing at the Milano-Cortina Winter Games wasn't the same as past years.

Canada finished eighth in the gold-medal standings with just three. As for total medals, Canada placed sixth (four silver, eight bronze). At the 2022 Beijing Games, Canada had 25 medals and eight gold, finishing third in the gold-medal standings for a fourth consecutive Paralympics.

O'Neill was quick to say how proud she was of the group, while also citing factors such as "accidents and injuries," along with Russia being back in the fold. The Russians earned 12 medals, with eight gold -- only China (15 gold) and the United States (13 gold) finished ahead.

"A little bit different but still really, really pleased with how the team has done," O'Neill said. "I would say it's also testimony to how quickly and how evolving the competitive level is around the world for the Paralympics right now.

"I'm going to say we've had a record number of top-five, top-eight [finishes] and it's just a really good moment to see how much the world is catching up and also what the competition levels look like."

As for the future, O'Neill emphasized the importance of making strong performances "repeatable." She pointed to first-time medallists in judging the strength of the talent pool, as well as top-five and top-eight finishes.

But one matter, which has been a hot topic in national sporting circles, also earned a mention.

"Continuing with what we're doing, investment is going to be key," O'Neill said. "We're grateful incredibly for the government investment and corporate investment, but we certainly need to invest more if we're going to continue to perform on the world stage.

"It's obvious from being here with the kind of attention and intention for many of the countries around the world that we've really got to continue grow our sport in Canada, invest in sport and continue to add what has already been some good investment, but [it] needs to probably go up a couple levels, for sure, for us to continue to be competitive on the world stage."

O'Neill's call for investment echoed that of Canadian Olympic Committee CEO David Shoemaker after the Olympics, which saw Canada finish eighth in the overall medal count with 21, with Russia out of the fold.

O'Neill said the funding helps get athletes to competitions, with training, hiring world-class coaches and talent to aid the athletes and keep up with standard of equipment for competition.

"As an overall sports system, the core funding has not increased for about the last, it's almost 18 years now," she said. "So, what you have is many sport organizations trying to do a lot more with less. And so, when that core funding doesn't increase, it's tough to continue to compete on the world stage.

"What I would say at a core funding level, we need to at least make that whole. And quite honestly, we know it's going to take increased funding for the system and the athletes for them to be able to participate fully and without any concern."

Nordic ski star Natalie Wilkie shone brightest for Canada with four medals, and two of three gold, with the wheelchair curling team winning the other. Fellow nordic ski star Mark Arendz added two bronze, while Para alpine skier Kalle Eriksson, and guide Sierra Smith earned three medals in their Paralympic debut.