by Jeffrey Reed, Editor, LondonOntarioSports.com

Somewhat lost in the shuffle of news stemming from a current volatile world was the tremendous success of the Canadian team competing March 6-15 at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Games.

Team Canada concluded the nine days of competition with 15 medals – three gold, four silver and eight bronze, good for a sixth-place finish. A team of 50 athletes, including four guides, competed in each sport, including Para alpine skiing (eight athletes), Para ice hockey (17), Para nordic skiing – including Para biathlon and Para cross-country skiing (15), Para snowboard (5) and wheelchair curling (5).

Perhaps Canadian Paralympic Committee CEO Karen O’Neill said it best when she quipped, “The Games are an incredible example how sport can unite, break down barriers and foster greater inclusion and accessibility.”

As a disabled athlete, I couldn’t agree more with O’Neill, and I am extremely happy for Team Canada and their success.

One of the heroes at this year’s Winter Paralympic Games was London’s Mark Ideson, who has become one of Southwestern Ontario’s most decorated athletes of all-time on the international stage. Ideson, 49, skipped Canada’s wheelchair curling team to its fourth Paralympic gold medal and first since 2014. He threw the critical last shots for Canada that secured their semifinal and final victories against South Korea and China, helping Canada become the first country to ever complete the tournament undefeated.

Team skip since 2018, Ideson made his Paralympic debut in 2014 and now has two gold and two bronze medals. Canada entered the Milano Cortina games looking to extend a remarkable streak which included a medal at every Paralympic Games since wheelchair curling made its debut in 2006. Canada had captured gold in 2006, 2010 and 2014, and bronze in 2018 and 2022.

London’s Mark Ideson. Photo: Curling Canada.

“Mark just did it all week for us. He was a great leader, and I’m super proud of him and this whole team, and it’s super special,” said vice-skip/third Jon Thurston of Dunsford, Ont.

“It’s validating for all the hard work that’s gone in the last 12 years,” said Ideson of the time between this year’s Games and 2014. “Not just by the members on the team but also the staff behind the scenes and friends and family that have sacrificed lots of time for us to be on the road. It’s tough, but it’s all worth it for this moment.”

Ideson was selected to be one of two flag bearers representing Canada at the closing ceremony along with Para Nordic skier Natalie Wilkie of Salmon Arm, B.C. He said carrying the Maple Leaf was “the biggest honour I could ever imagine. It’s really hard to sum up this whole week. This is the culmination of a lot of hard work from a great group of people. We have the best team and the best staff and compete for the best country. I am incredibly proud and honoured to have been part of this whole journey.”

Milano Cortina 2026 Canadian Paralympic Team honorary captain Mac Marcoux said Team Canada “had every emotion here from athletes achieving historic and career-best results, athletes with new personal bests, and athletes who have felt disappointment. No matter what, every member of this team put forth their best efforts, and it has been incredible to watch them all put it out there on the snow and ice.”

With the world in turmoil today, it’s comforting knowing we have heroes like our Paralympic athletes to look at for inspiration and hope.

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LondonOntarioSports.com publisher and editor Jeffrey Reed has covered sports at every level since 1980. An award-winning writer, author, broadcaster and photographer, Reed is also a disabled athlete who pitched with the London Majors of the semi-professional Intercounty Baseball League, and later worked as a golf professional and brand ambassador. Reach him at jeff@londonontariosports.com.