Youngest athlete at games

Photo: CTV

Armstong's Ina Forrest and Salmon Arm's Natalie Wilkie are among 55 athletes named to the PyeongChang 2018 Canadian Paralympic Team.

Forrest, 55, has two Paralympic gold medals under her belt in wheelchair curling, after competing at the 2010 and 2014 Paralympic Games.

Wilkie, 17, will head to her first Paralympic Games in PyeongChang for para nordic.

Curt Minard, born in Weyburn, Sask., who now calls Vernon home was also named to the Paralympic team for para snowboard.

In addition, 16 coaches and 26 support staff will be heading to PyeongChang to support the athletes.

The team will be led by Chef de Mission Todd Nicholson, a three-time Paralympic medallist in para ice hockey.

“Congratulations to all of the athletes who have earned a spot on the Canadian Paralympic Team,” Nicholson said. “This is a talented team of strong competitors and we are heading to PyeongChang looking to be leaders both on and off the field of play."

"We wish the athletes the best of luck with their final preparations, and encourage everyone across the country to cheer on this group of extraordinary Canadians. We are less than two weeks away now from the Games, and we are excited and ready to get started.”

Wilkie is one of the youngest competitors on the team after recently turned 17-years-old in January.  

About 670 athletes from around the world will compete in a total of 80 medal events.

The games will be broadcast via the Canadian Paralympic Committee’s media consortium, which will include coverage on Canada’s Paralympic Network CBC and Radio-Canada, Sportsnet, AMI, Facebook, and Twitter.

Full broadcast details will be announced shortly.

The PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games will take place March 9 to 18.