About Me
I lost my left arm above the elbow in a farm accident at the age of seven. Soon after the accident, I was introduced to the War Amps of Canada and their CHAMP Program. They opened up a world of possibilities following my amputation, helping me become comfortable with who I was. Later, I became a Junior Counselor, using my experiences living with an amputation to show younger Champs that they can achieve whatever they dream. While the accident was initially a significant shock, it did not deter me from pursuing my love for sports and competition. I embraced the power of sports to explore and demonstrate my abilities, not my disability.
Being naturally competitive, I took to sports at a very young age. I began skiing in the backyard when I was about five years old. My interest turned toward Biathlon after watching the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City. A couple of years later, I found an opportunity to try the sport for the first time. I experienced the thrill of shooting for the first time and soon got hooked on hitting targets. Before long, I was on the local Army Cadet Biathlon team. I had great success with that team, which included my younger brother. Together, we set record results at Nationals and became the first team from PEI to medal at Nationals. I started competing using a prosthetic arm while racing against able-bodied competitors. Two seasons later, in January 2007, I was at the start line of my first international competition, an IPC World Cup, in Vuokatti, Finland. I have always described my career as snowballing from there.
2010 - Vancouver
Just over three years after that first World Cup, I was a Paralympian competing at home in Whistler during my first Paralympic Winter Games. It was overwhelming to take it all in at the time. Having that initial experience at home in a safe environment helped greatly and would benefit me later. As much as I wanted to earn a medal there, I wasn't ready. That was my greatest lesson from Vancouver. Observing how the veteran athletes focused, trained, and performed at the Paralympics was very different from anything I had seen before. Flying home from those Games, I reflected and decided that this was what I wanted to pursue! I wanted to be one of the best in my sport! The intent was clear, and the goal was only four years away.
2014 - Sochi
The next four years were incredible as I learned to become one of the best skiers in the
world. Before Vancouver, I had one podium finish in a biathlon; the first year after, I finished
off the podium only once on the World Cup. I matured as an athlete during those four years
leading up to Sochi. For example, in 2013, I earned my first three World Championship
medals, including my first World title. Therefore, I entered the 2014 Sochi Paralympic Games
as the reigning World Cup Biathlon Champion and the World Champion in the Biathlon
Sprint. At my second Paralympic Games, I earned my first medal, a silver in the Biathlon
Sprint, a first for Canada. The important lesson from Sochi was that the tiniest detail makes
the difference between gold and silver. I was only 0.7 seconds away from winning the gold
medal. I also earned a bronze medal before leaving Sochi. I had medals in my hand, but I
couldn't help but feel hungry for more.
After the Games, I volunteered with the Canadian organization SchoolBox. That spring, I
traveled as a member of the non-profit group to Nicaragua to help build a school for a
community ravaged by landslides. Giving back to the community has always been a special
part of what I do. After my accident, I witnessed firsthand the power and impact a
community can have as they rallied to support me. I always wanted to give back in gratitude
for that support. Helping out or volunteering through sports was an easy way to contribute.
Volunteers are the backbone of sport. I found that I could make the biggest impact through
the pride I saw from the community regarding my results. One of their own was among the
best in the world, hailing from a tiny community in the smallest province. I know every day, and for every race, that a community stands behind me, whether it's my hometown community, the community of PEI, or the greater community of Canada. That is whom I strive to work hard for.
2018 - PyeongChang
Driven for the next four years to be 0.7 seconds faster, I became more comfortable with performance and embraced it. I was becoming the skier I had dreamt of when flying home from the 2010 Games. I headed towards the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games as a man on a mission, aiming to execute the best race plan possible each time I stepped up to the start line. I had a very successful 2017 Para-Nordic World Championships in Finsterau, Germany, earning five medals: three in biathlon and two in cross-country, but that was only the beginning. I would take that one step further in PyeongChang, earning six Paralympic medals, a Canadian record for medals won at a single Games, including my first Paralympic title in the Biathlon Individual and Canada's first and best Paralympic Cross Country Relay result with a silver. It was an indescribable nine days in Korea!
2022 - Beijing
Getting to Beijing for my fourth Paralympic Winter Games was a greater challenge
than any previous Games. A global pandemic disrupted everything I considered
normal. It was a truly unique approach to the Games, requiring me to adapt seemingly
every aspect of training, competition, rest, and recovery. Nothing about these Games
was ideal; there was constant adaptation and shifting of focus. I take great pride in my
ability to concentrate on my preparation in the years leading up to the Games and to
arrive in Beijing ready to perform. While there, I earned four medals, including my
second Paralympic title and another Cross Country Relay medal, this time bronze.
After a successful Beijing Games, I couldn't help but wonder if I was capable of more.
Like my feelings after leaving Sochi, I am hungry to see how far I can go.
Onto 2026 - Milano-Cortina
After the Beijing Games, I let my body and mind recover for a few months. By
deliberately stepping away, I renewed my desire to train daily, focusing on the smallest details to enhance my ability and performance. During that time, I feel I gained a vital skill: consistency. The past three years have been the most consistent of my career, representing my best performances. I have earned the Para Biathlon World Cup Overall title for the past three consecutive seasons, including a season where I was undefeated throughout the World Cup and at the World Championships.
I bring a long career's worth of experience into my fifth Paralympic Winter Games season, and my focus is on my preparation for March 7, 2026.
