CANMORE – The big year continues for Canadian Para Nordic skier Natalie Wilkie.
Winner of four medals at the 2022 Beijing Winter Paralympic Games, Wilkie has been nominated for the American Para Athlete of the Year Award by the Americas Paralympic Committee (APC), representing athletes in North and South America.
Fans can vote for athletes until Friday (Nov. 25) by writing the athlete's name on APC's Facebook and Instagram posts. The top three with the most comments advance to the finals.
"It is such an honour to be recognized internationally for my athletic achievements, and I still can't believe that I was chosen out of hundreds of deserving athletes," said Wilkie. "As a Canmore resident, I am very proud to be representing this amazing community."
On and off frozen trails, 2022 has been a milestone year for the 21-year-old from Salmon Arm, British Columbia. Wilkie made her commercial debut, starring in a Petro-Canada spot with former coach Robin McKeever. In April, the baseball fan threw the ceremonial first pitch at the Toronto Blue Jays home opener. And along with teammate Mark Arendz, she won the most medals for Canada in Beijing with four.
Wilkie's medals included gold in the women's 15-kilometre standing cross-country race and the standing sprint, silver in the standing middle distance, and bronze in the 4x2.5km mixed relay.
