Cross Country Canada – Emily Weekes wins first bronze, Chris Klebl silver, Brittany Hudak places fourth

 

PYEONGCHANG, Kor—Canada’s para-nordic skiers added a silver and bronze medal to their two-day haul in Pyeongchang, Korea on Friday. Emily Weekes won her first career international bronze medal, while Paralympic champion, Chris Klebl, won the silver.

 

Emily Weekes had a childhood goal to win a wrestling medal for Canada at the Olympic Games. But following a training injury that caused nerve damage to her right arm, those sporting dreams changed to skiing onto the Paralympic podium.

 

The North Vancouver resident is well on her way, winning a bronze medal on Friday in just her second international race – and on the 2018 Paralympic course nonetheless. The 24-year-old rookie clocked a bronze medal time of 19:59.9 in the women’s 7.5-kilometre skate-ski race at the IPC Asian Cup.

 

Weekes shared the podium with two Russian skiers. She was 10 seconds behind second-place finisher, Natalia Bratiuk. Ekaterina Rumyantseva captured top spot on the podium for the second day. Rumyantseva set the time to beat at 18:28.4.

 

Weekes also edged out Canadian teammate, Brittany Hudak, for the final spot on the women’s standing podium. The 22-year-old Hudak, of Prince Albert, Sask., skied into fourth spot with a time of 20:09.7.

 

Hudak was recruited to the national program as a teenager just three years ago. Weekes put on the skinny skis for the first time just last year. Both represent the future of Para-Nordic skiing in Canada.

 

“Both Emily and Brittany are so young in their development, and have serious potential for the future,” said Robin McKeever, head coach, Canada’s Para-Nordic Team. “Both are great athletes. Brittany has been with us for a few years and Emily will also continue to develop well over the next few years. This is a great start for her in her first IPC races of the year.”

 

Paralympic champion, Chris Klebl, captured the silver medal in the men’s sit-skiing division.

 

Klebl, of Canmore, Alta., clocked a second-place time of 16:17.9.

 

Russia’s Aleksandr Davidovich pulled away from the field with a time of 14:51.5. American, Andrew Soule, finished just behind Klebl in third place at 15:19.2.

 

The IPC Asian Cup continues in Pyeongchang on Saturday with the biathlon races.

 

CCC is the governing body of cross-country skiing in Canada, which is the nation’s optimal winter sport and recreational activity with more than one million Canadians participating annually. Its 60,000 members include athletes, coaches, officials and skiers of all ages and abilities, including those on Canada’s National Ski Teams and Para-Nordic Ski Teams. With the support of its valued corporate partners – Haywood Securities Inc., AltaGas, and Mackenzie Investments – along with the Government of Canada, Canadian Olympic Committee, Canadian Paralympic Committee, Own the Podium and B2Ten, CCC develops Olympic, Paralympic and world champions. For more information on CCC, please visit us at www.cccski.com.

 

*****

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Chris Dornan

Media and Public Relations

Cross Country Canada

T: 403-620-8731