Para Nordic skier Collin Cameron battles back from injury to win gold

The 2025 Para Biathlon World Cup is going on in Canmore right now. It wraps on Sunday, and this is a big comeback year for one of the competitors.

Collin Cameron was born with Arthrogryposis, a condition that caused the shortening of his lower limbs and the underdevelopment of his muscles and tendons.

But that never stopped the 37-year-old from being active.

He played Para ice hockey and then found his true passion in Para Nordic skiing.

“It’s just kind of a way of life for me,” said Cameron.

“I never really had this opportunity growing up, having Para sport, and now I have it, and I kind of make it my own. I’m part of this community that’s always been welcoming, and it feels like where I’m supposed to be.”

Cameron is competing in the Para Biathlon World Cup in Canmore this week.

He got off to a great start, winning gold in the Para sit-skiing sprint.

“I’m pleased, for sure,” said Cameron.

“Not a whole lot of biathlon training this year, so it’s nice to know I can just kind of show up and I don’t forget how to shoot and race and put it all together.

“I just didn’t overthink it.”

Battling back from injury

Cameron hasn’t trained much because he’s been battling a series of injuries.

The latest was his shoulder, which forced him to shut down his entire last season.

This was his first Biathlon World Cup since returning from injury, which he says makes the win even more satisfying.

“I was doing things right,” said Cameron, who is from Bracebridge, Ont.

“Prioritizing health and taking care of my body when I needed to, even though that meant taking a whole season off last year.

“It’s nice to have some justification for a really hard decision last year.”

Wants Team Canada spot

Cameron has been to the Paralympic Games twice in his career.

In 2018, in Pyeongchang, he won three bronze medals.

He was back in 2022 and won another three bronze medals in Beijing.

Cameron says he’d love to get back to the next Paralympics in Milan-Cortina, Italy.

“I know there’s still lots for me to build on and everybody else, too, in the field,” said Cameron.

“It’s nice to get the first one done and have a feel for where everything is.

“There’s still a lot of very exceptional biathletes that aren’t here, so we’ll see where I stack up next month ... and leading into March.”

The 2025 Para Biathlon World Cup in Canmore wraps up on Sunday.