TRIPLE SILVER SUNDAY FOR CANADA
Media availability Sunday night at Canadian Paralympic House

March 14, 2010 (Whistler) – A super Sunday for Team Canada at the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games. The home team captured three silver medals in Whistler on the second day of competition while the wheelchair curling and sledge hockey teams remained perfect in Vancouver.
Competing in her third Paralympic Games, but first in the winter, para-alpine skier Viviane Forest (Edmonton) and her guide, Lindsay Debou (Whistler, BC), captured the silver medal Sunday in the women’s slalom, visually impaired. It is the third medal for Forest, who won a pair of gold medals in goalball at the 2000 and 2004 Summer Paralympic Games.
“I’m really happy to win the silver,” said Forest at the bottom of Whistler Creekside. “Of course you’re always hoping for gold but I’m very content. I’m proud to be the first alpine athlete (Olympic or Paralympic) to win a medal in Whistler.”
Due to difficult weather conditions, race organizers switched competitions scheduled for today and the skiers were forced to change their mindset from downhill to slalom with little notice.
“Throw anything at us,” said Debou “You can tell us 20 minutes before it (the change) happens and we’ll do it.”
In his first Paralympic race, para-alpine sit skier Josh Dueck (Vernon, BC) pleased the many fans in attendance with a silver medal performance in the men’s slalom. He finished the first run in fourth place but stormed through the second run to finish with a combined time of 1:46.29 for an impressive Paralympic debut. Dozens of supporters wearing I Love Josh Dueck T-shirts waved flags and sang the national anthem multiple times following the race. The popular skier hopes his silver medal will inspire others.
“I first thought after my accident that my disability wasn’t cool. This silver medal just proves that anything is possible if you work hard at it. I once heard someone say ‘You never know what will happen in life, so just get on with it.”
Para-nordic sit-skier Colette Bourgonje (Saskatoon) made history earlier in the day by becoming the first Canadian winter Paralympic athlete to win a medal on home soil. She captured the silver medal in the women’s 10 kilometre sitting category. Bourgonje won bronze in the same event at the 2006 Games. The achievement marks the ninth Paralympic medal for Bourgonje, who has earned five medals in cross-country skiing and four medals in athletics.
“Wow, I’m shocked and I can’t believe it. I don’t think it has sunk in yet. I am still racing because I wanted to compete at a Paralympics in Canada and I’m just so proud to have done this in front of Canadians. I share this medal with all of Canada.” said Bourgonje after her race.
“Our wax techs were awesome because these skis were flying today. I may be standing on the podium, but this medal is our entire teams to share. We were all in this together. The support we have received from Canada through our personal sponsors, government and Own the Podium has made the difference and I am so appreciative of everything they have done for us athletes. Age means nothing, attitude is everything. I live by that everyday and I think that came through today.”
In Vancouver, 22-year-old Marc Dorion scored a natural hat trick as Canada crushed Sweden 10-1 in sledge hockey. Canada outshot Sweden 32-3, much to the delite of 5.504 fans in attendance at UBC Thunderbird Arena. Canada moves to 2-0 in the tournament and faces Norway on Tuesday night.
There was plenty of drama at Vancouver Paralympic Park. The Canadian wheelchair curling team needed to steal two rocks in the final end to sneak away with a 6-5 victory over Norway.
“We were able to put the pressure on in the eighth end and Jim (Armstrong) made a great come around,” said third Darryl Neighbour. “That game was too close.”
With the win, Canada remains perfect at 3-0 in the standings. Next game for Canada is Monday versus Japan.

MEDIA AVAILABILITY

Who:    - Para-alpine skier Josh Dueck, silver medalist in slalom sit ski.
- Para-alpine skier Viviane Forest / guide Lindsay Debou, silver medalists in women’s slalom, visually impaired
- Para-nordic skier Colette Bourgonje, silver medalist, women’s 10 kilometre sit ski.
- Team Canada chef de mission, Blair McIntosh

How:    a) Accredited media only - Whistler Medals Plaza, Whistler at 19:00 PT.
b) All media - Canada Paralympic House (Whistler Public Library) immediately following medal ceremony.

About the Canadian Paralympic Committee
The Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) is a non-profit, private organisation with 43 member sports organisations dedicated to strengthening the Paralympic Movement.  The CPC is responsible for creating an optimal high-performance environment for the Canadian Paralympic athletes to win at Paralympic and ParaPanAmerican Games.  By supporting Canadian Paralympic athletes and promoting their success, the CPC inspires all Canadians with a physical disability to get involved in sport through programs delivered by its member organisations.  For more information, visit www.paralympic.ca.

Follow the Canadian Paralympic Committee by becoming a fan on Facebook, and following on Twitter.

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For further information please contact:
Michael Cvitkovic
Press Chief
Canadian Paralympic Committee
mcvitkovic@tenniscanada.com
(416) 618-1266

Chris Dornan
Media Attache, Para-Nordic
Public Relations and Media
Cross Country Canada
hpprchris@comcast.net
(281) 703-4394