Canada's Mark Arendz, Natalie Wilkie capture gold on home snow at Para biathlon worlds

Canada kicked off the inaugural Para Biathlon World Championships with a pair of gold medals on Wednesday in Prince George, B.C.

Paralympic veterans Mark Arendz and Natalie Wilkie won the men's and women's 7.5-kilometre standing sprint events at the Caledonia Nordic Ski Club.

The 33-year-old Arendz posted a time of 21 minutes 05.5 seconds to finish ahead of Ukrainian Serhii Romaniuk (21:26) and Germany's Marco Maier (21:58), who beat Arendz for Paralympic silver in 2022.

Arendz, an 11-time Paralympic medallist, is undefeated this season. The Harsville, P.E.I., native served as Canada's flag-bearer at Tuesday night's opening ceremony.

Wilkie of Salmon Arm, B.C., tied with Ukraine's Liudmyla Liashenko for top spot atop the women's sprint podium after both biathletes clocked 24:11.3. Prince Albert, Sask., native Brittany Hudak claimed the bronze medal in 24:51.7.

In other Canadian results, Derek Zaplotinsky of Smoky Lake, Alta., finished one spot off the podium in the men's 7.5km sitting sprint.

Bracebridge, Ont.'s Collin Cameron is also competing in Prince George.

The Para biathlon worlds run through Sunday. The world championships will be followed by the World Cup finals at the same venue from March 13-17.