“This is incredible” – Canada’s Tyler Turner races to snowboard gold at 2022 Beijing Paralympics

“This is incredible” – Canada’s Tyler Turner races to snowboard gold at 2022 Beijing Paralympics

Tyler Turner

Canadian Paralympic rookie Tyler Turner claimed the country’s first-ever Para snowboard gold medal on Monday in Beijing 2022. Adding to this, Turner’s compatriot Lisa DeJong added silver to his nation’s medal tally in the same event. 

The Saskatchewan native Turner never ceased to dominate the men’s Para snowboard-cross SB-LL1 events before crossing the finish line first in the big final. Notably, he also finished first in the quarter-final and the semifinal in what’s been a display of dominance at the Games.

American Mike Schultz was 1.53 seconds slower than the Canadian for silver. On the other hand, China’s Wu Zhongwei, 1.80 seconds shy of Turner’s time, completed the podium.

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“This is incredible. I don’t even know if it’s sunk in yet,” Turner said after the race. “This is crazy. Four years ago I didn’t even think I’d snowboard, and now standing on top of the podium, it’s unbelievable.”

“Felt no pressure, just stuck to the plan” 

Tyler Turner
Tyler Turner produced a stellar performance at the 2022 World Para Snow Sports Championships last month

Ahead of the Beijing Games, Turner had impressed in the 2022 World Para Snow Sports Championships in January. The 33-year-old went on to earn two gold medals and one bronze in his maiden world championship appearance. Cut to today, he further cemented his spot as one of the world’s best two months later.

“I felt no pressure. I started building some momentum through the season. At world champs, it all came together and then to finish it off here, I just stuck to the plan,” Turner said.

“We say in Canada: ‘pucks deep’. I got pucks deep, stuck to the game plan and here we are. It worked out for me.”

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