Canadian Paralympic Committee CEO Karen O’Neill acknowledged Canada’s diminished medal haul at the Milan-Cortina Paralympics - three golds, fourth-fewest since 2014 - following eight golds and 25 total medals in Beijing 2022.
Canada finished eighth in golds and sixth overall. O’Neill credited rising global parity - citing Russia’s return and strong showings by China and the U.S. - but stressed systemic underfunding: core sport funding has not increased in nearly 18 years.
She called for significantly higher government and corporate investment to sustain world-class coaching, equipment, athlete support, and talent development - especially after first-time medallists like Natalie Wilkie (4 medals, 2 gold), Mark Arendz, and debutants Kalle Eriksson and Sierra Smith.
O’Neill linked sustained investment to national unity and identity, highlighting wheelchair curling’s emotional gold - Canada’s first since 2014 - as proof of sport’s unifying power.