Mark Arendz shot his way into the record books to become the first Canadian to win multiple Paralympic Games medals in biathlon with a bronze medal showing at the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi, Russia.
Battling miserable rain and fog that usually wreaks havoc on sharpshooting races, Arendz shot 19/20 and clocked a time of 30:31 to finish third in the 12.5 kilometre race.
“To get a medal is awesome and that was the goal,” Arendz said. “There were mistakes out there both in shooting and on the course, so it was not a perfect race, but anytime you are on the podium you have to be happy because of this strong field.”
The race was a three-way battle for gold between Arendz, Russia’s Azat Karachurin and Norway’s Nils-Erik Ulset. Karachurin also shot 19/20, but his ski speed gave him a minute advantage over Arendz. Ulset missed two targets on his final bout of shooting, but sped quickly through the penalty loop to barely beat Arendz for the silver.
“I felt a little tired today and I just didn’t quite have the snap I had on the first day,” Arendz said. “The conditions stayed hard so I was able to put down the power I had. Everything is there. I just need to put it together.”
Before Arendz, Brian McKeever was the lone Canadian to win a Paralympic biathlon medal. McKeever competed in the visually impaired biathlon event, where audible tones help athletes find their targets. Paralympic biathlon is slightly different than Olympic biathlon, as the athletes use air rifles instead of .22 calibre firearms.
The Canmore resident is taking an extremely disciplined approach to the Games and at 24 represents the future of Canada’s ParaNordic program. He lost his left arm in a farming accident as a child on Prince Edward Island and was drawn to biathlon after watching the 2002 Winter Olympics. A student at the University of Calgary, Arendz dedicated himself to the ParaNordic team and has been no stranger to the podium since 2012.
After making an appearance at the 2010 Paralympics, he won the overall IPC biathlon standings in 2013 and was second in 2012, so he’s already proven he’s no flash in the pan. But before he leaves Sochi, he wants the perfect race.
“This time it is strictly business,” Arendz said. “I have had four years of experience and feel that I am strong in all race distances. I want to be on the podium every time. It was not a perfect race today. I still haven’t been perfect shooting and I don’t want to leave Sochi until I do that.”
The 15 km standing biathlon race is scheduled for March 14.
