With Para Nordic skier Mark Arendz representing the Canadian Paralympic Team as flag bearer at the Closing Ceremony, Canada officially concluded a record-breaking nine days of competition with 28 medals won at the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games. This is Canada's greatest number of podium finishes at a Paralympic Winter Games in history. In the standings, Canada finished second in medal count behind the United States who won 36 medals, including 13 gold.
With 28 total medals, Canada has crushed its previous best Paralympic Winter Games, 19 medals won at Vancouver 2010. The goal entering competition at PyeongChang had been to improve upon the 16 medals won four years ago in Sochi. The Vancouver Games still marks the most gold medals won by Canada with 10.
"We are so proud of all of our athletes, coaches, and support staff here in PyeongChang," said Todd Nicholson, Chef de Mission for the Canadian Paralympic Team. "This has been a superb Paralympic Games for the Canadian Paralympic Team. Not only did we meet our goal of exceeding 16 medals won at Sochi 2014, we absolutely smashed right through it. It has been a phenomenal nine days of Paralympic action. There is a lot of hard work behind-the-scenes that goes into those performances and they are so well-deserved. Congratulations to our entire team; it has been such a joy to watch everyone compete."
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau released a statement on Sunday: "Over the last 10 days, our Paralympians have pushed the limits, reached the top of the podium, and made history by winning 28 medals, a record number for Team Canada at the Paralympic Winter Games. Team Canada, you made us proud. We watched as years of discipline and hard work paid off, and shared in the excitement that only you - some of the world's best athletes - can bring."
Braydon Luscombe, from Duncan, was the lone competitor from Vancouver Island. He was competing in the Super-G Downhill Skiing and unfortunately he lost an edge and took a spill on his first run, leaving him far behind the pack for medal contention.