Former Para alpine skier Mac Marcoux has been appointed as the honorary captain of Canada’s Paralympic team for the upcoming Milan-Cortina Games, as announced by the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) on Wednesday. Alongside Marcoux, a group of five athletes have been selected as co-captains to represent the Canadian Paralympic Team, sharing their teammates’ stories and engaging fans and supporters.
In a departure from past traditions where the Canadian Paralympic team had traditional chefs de mission, these new roles are part of an initiative that acknowledges the critical leadership role of athletes during the Games. Catherine Gosselin-Despres, Chief Sport Officer of the Canadian Paralympic Committee, praised the selected athletes as experienced Paralympians and dedicated ambassadors for Para sport, highlighting Marcoux’s leadership qualities and passion for the Paralympic Games.
Marcoux, a six-time Paralympic medalist from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, retired in February 2024 after competing in Sochi 2014, PyeongChang 2018, and Beijing 2022. His notable achievements include winning two Paralympic titles in the visually impaired category.
As part of his role, Marcoux will collaborate with the co-captains to promote team unity, share stories of Canada’s Paralympians, and engage audiences during the Games. Expressing his enthusiasm, Marcoux mentioned his excitement to continue contributing to the team and showcase his teammates’ narratives to a wider audience across the country.
The five co-captains, including wheelchair curler Ina Forrest, hockey player Tyler McGregor, nordic skier Brittany Hudak, snowboarder Tyler Turner, and alpine skier Alexis Guimond, collectively hold 13 Paralympic medals. Forrest, preparing for her fifth Paralympics, is a highly decorated curler from Spallumcheenhas, British Columbia, while McGregor, a Para hockey player from Forest, Ontario, has secured three Paralympic medals in his career.
Guimond, representing Gatineau, Quebec, and Hudak from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, each bring valuable experience and leadership to the team. Turner, from Campbell River, British Columbia, made history in Para snowboarding by winning Canada’s first gold medal in his category at his debut Paralympics.
The upcoming Milan-Cortina Paralympics from March 6-15 will feature a range of winter sports, including alpine skiing, hockey, snowboarding, wheelchair curling, and nordic skiing. The Canadian athletes participating in the event will be announced in the coming months.
