Arendz wins gold, Hudak takes silver in biathlon at para Nordic worlds

Photo: The Canadian Press

ÖSTERSUND, Sweden — Canada’s Mark Arendz skied to a gold medal in the men’s standing 10-kilometre biathlon Wednesday at the 2023 Para Nordic World Championships.

Brittany Hudak added a bronze medal in the women's 10-kilometre standing event as Canada increased its medal total to 10 at midway point of the event.

Arendz, of Hartsville, P. E.I., snagged his fourth world title with a winning time of 27 minutes 56.2 seconds.

The four-time Paralympian was the lone competitor in the field to shoot clean, knocking down all 20 targets.

Ukraine’s Grygorii Vovchynskyi missed one shot in his final stop at the range, forcing him to ski one 150-metre penalty loop and dropping him to second place at 28:29.0.

Serhii Romaniuk, of Ukraine, was third at 29:24.6.

"I was frustrated with my shooting performance from the sprint, so I had to refocus on what mattered today,” said the 32-year-old Arendz, who was second earlier this week in the biathlon short distance race. "The range was challenging today with changing lighting and variable wind. The key for me was to remain in control in the range."

Hudak, 29, from Prince Albert, Sask., missed two of her first shots but raced back into contention to finish on the podium in 34:40.7.

Liudmyla Liashenko (32:16.4) won gold and fellow Ukrainian Bohdana Konashuk (33:34.8) took silver.

"Today felt a bit tougher for me, but I’m happy that I was able to refocus after a less than ideal first bout of shooting," Hudak said.

Derek Zaplotinsky of Smoky Lake, Alta., was fourth in the men’s 10-kilometre sit-ski race with a time of 34:28.9.

The world championships continue Friday with the biathlon distance races.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 25, 2023.