(Zhangjiakou) Brian McKeever gave Canada its second gold medal of the Paralympic Games in Beijing by easily defending its title in the long distance cross-country skiing event in the classic style with visual impairment.
Posted at 12:17 a.m.
The 42-year-old Calgary athlete now has 18 career Paralympic medals, including 14 gold.
McKeever, competing in his sixth and final Games, was the three-time defending champion in the event and the heavy favorite to win.
He completed the 20 kilometer course in 55 minutes and 36.7 seconds, more than three minutes ahead of his closest pursuer, American Jake Adicoff, who took silver. Sweden’s Zebastian Modin won bronze.
McKeever’s guides for the race were Russell Kennedy and Graham Nishikawa.
The last time McKeever failed to win this event was in 2006 when he finished second.