PARALYMPICS:  Natalie Wilkie (Gold) and Emily Young (Bronze) in 7.5k Classic Race

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Photo: Salmon Arm community cheers on Natalie Wilke as she wins first gold medal - https://www.saobserver.net/

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...........Building on a thrilling bronze-medal sprint finish earlier in the week, Natalie Wilkie (Larch Hills Ski Club) will now forever be able to call herself a Paralympic Champion. The Salmon Arm, B.C. resident shared the podium with teammate, Emily Young (Hollyburn Cross Country Ski Club), who finished third in the women’s standing classification.

“This is crazy awesome. I didn’t think this would happen at all. I’m only 17 and this is my first Paralympics,” said Wilkie, who lost four fingers on her left hand in a wood shop accident at school less than two years ago.

“The difference today was double poling. I just kept telling myself to pretend I was elbowing my older brother.”

With Wilkie in the finish coral having posted a golden time of 22:12.2, North Vancouver’s Emily Young had one thing on her mind while in pursuit of her first Paralympic medal.

“What would Natalie do. I just kept saying ‘What would Natalie be doing,’” laughed the 27-year-old Young, who finished just 1.7 seconds back of the gold medal time set by Wilkie.

“I was trying and trying all week to get onto the podium. I knew this race would be my big chance. I kept telling myself to get this done. There is nothing left in the tank. I didn’t want any more hills. I just wanted to get over the finish line. I left it all out there today.”

Young stopped the clock at 22:13.9. It was looking like a one-two Canadian finish until the dominant Neutral Paralympic Athlete, Ekaterina Rumyantseva, came in at 22:13.8, edging out Young by .1 for the silver.

“It looked like we had one-two finish, but that is okay,” said Young. “Teamwork makes the dream work. The entire team worked together so awesome today. This is just unreal.”...............

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