Canada’s Para alpine skiing team picked up three more medals on the World Cup finals on Sunday in Sella Nevea, Italy.
Coming off a three-medal showing within the opening downhill events on Saturday, the Canadians continued to shine with three downhill bronze medals.
Canadian sit-skier Brian Rowland reached the primary World Cup podium of his profession, ending third in 52.67 seconds.
The 36-year-old Paralympian from Merrickville, Ont., shared the rostrum with five-time Paralympic gold medallist Jesper Pedersen of Norway, who finished first in 51.52.
Niels de Langen of the Netherlands finished just ahead of Rowland for silver (52.20).
‘It’s almost unbelievable’
Rowland was riding momentum entering the race after earning a then career-best sixth-place finish on Saturday in 54.28.
“It’s almost unbelievable,” Rowland said in a release. “It was super fast on the market and it wasn’t pretty but I just gave it my best and held on. People were cheering on the finish and once I saw my time, I used to be a few seconds faster than yesterday so I knew I had a shot at a podium. It’s pretty awesome!”
“It’s unbelievable.” – Brian Rowland
? The moment you get your FIRST World Cup Podium!! Brian taking home ? in today’s speed finale in Sella Nevea! pic.twitter.com/ZSgJDH58Nb
Candiac, Que., native Frédérique Turgeon continued her strong season with bronze in the ladies’s standing race, her fourth World Cup podium of the season.
Turgeon, who took home silver on Saturday, reached the rostrum with a time of 57.57 — ending just behind reigning world champion Anna-Maria Rieder (57.38).
Sweden’s Ebba Aarsjoe won gold in 55.89.
Alexis Guimond of Gatineau, Que., raced to his second straight bronze medal in the boys’s standing event for his fifth World Cup podium of the season.
Reigning Paralympic champion Arthur Bauchet of France topped the rostrum in 50.94, while reigning world champion Markus Salcher of Austria claimed silver for the second straight day (51.97).
“I believed that I had a greater approach today,” Guimond said. “It was higher conditions, but still a difficult day. It was tough competition, but my performance was higher and while I’m all the time aiming higher, I’m comfortable with today’s bronze medal.”
Turgeon and Guimond also won downhill bronze on the world championships in Spain in January.
The World Cup finals conclude with slalom and giant slalom races in Cortina, Italy from March 13-17.
Adding to the HAUL ??. @frede_turgeon and @AlexisGuimond have been taking no prisoners all season long and today was no different, coming away with a pair of third place finishes ?? in the ultimate speed race in Sella Nevea! pic.twitter.com/gpLzyWrJKA