Colin Cameron booked his ticket to Prince George, British Columbia after being named to Canada's squad for the Para World Cup finals.
The event takes place from March 13 to 17.
The Bracebridge native was also selected to participate in the Para Biathlon World Championships, but was unable to compete due to an ongoing sinus infection.
“It was horrible,” Cameron says of the injury.
While he has now returned to full training, he explained that there was a three-month period where he was having difficulty doing much of anything because it was difficult for him to breathe.
Cameron expects to compete in the middle distance biathlon and the sprint event is his “big goal” for his return to competition.
“I'm definitely hungry for it,” Cameron says.
Coming off a season in which he finished as the world's best cross-country skier, Cameron says he wants to add more to his ever-growing trophy cabinet but still has the ultimate goal of qualifying for the 2026 Winter Paralympics in Italy.
“I know I'm still on a really good path toward quality for the 2026 Olympics,” he says.
John Alberg, head of competitions at the Caledonia Nordic Ski Club, says the world's best para-athletes will descend on Prince George for the twin events.
“The Para Biathlon World Championships and the ensuing Nordic Para Biathlon World Cup Finals bring together the world's best athletes in these disciplines, setting the stage for what promises to be a series of unforgettable events,” he says. “Our teams have worked tirelessly to ensure the competitions are a fantastic showcase of Paralympic sports.”
With events in both competitions available to watch online, this is another step forward in accessibility of sports for disabled people, says Cameron.
“I've noticed a huge transformation, even since my first Paralympics in 2018,” he says.
Cameron fondly remembers watching Donovan Bailey take the title of World's Fastest Man at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. He says this is one of the sporting moments that inspired him.
As sports for people with disabilities continue to become easier to watch, he hopes he can provide a moment like this for the next generation of athletes.
“I'm 35 now and I'm looking forward to what life after sports will look like in the next four to six years,” says Cameron.
With files from Will Peters
