Revelstoke’s Emily Suchy won gold in her first race at the Canada Winter Games on Monday.
Suchy won gold in the 2.5km sit-ski event at the games, which are being held in Prince George, B.C.
Her teammate Andy Lin of Burnaby won gold in the 2.5km standing classic para male event. North Vancouver’s Emily Weekes took silver in the 2.5km standing classic para female race.
Suchy finished her race in 9:13.43 – more than two minutes ahead of runner-up Tanya Quesnel.
Her time would have place her fourth in the men’s race, only 42 seconds off the lead.
Suchy has Perthes Syndrome, which limits the mobility in her hips, preventing her to compete in regulard cross-country skiing races. She took up ski-skiing as a way to get out on the trails with her friends.
She is one of five female sit-ski racers competing at the Canada Winter Games. At the national cross-country skiing championships in March 2013, Suchy took home two golds and two silver, including wins over six-time Paralympian Colette Bourgonje.
Unfortunately, this is the highest level Suchy will be able to compete at because she has been deemed not disabled enough to compete at the international level.
Suchy races again Tuesday in the sprint and on Thursday in the five kilometre event.
