Kendall Gretsch, who claimed two gold medals in the biathlon sprint and long-distance cross-country at the Paralympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018, returns for the world cup season.
PREVIEW
Team USA looks to continue its success from the Paralympic Games PyeongChang 2018 as it makes its first stop on the World Para Nordic Skiing World Cup circuit in Vuokatti, Finland, from Dec. 12-19. Representing the U.S. at the first world cup stop will be Oksana Masters, Dan Cnossen, Kendall Gretsch, Aaron Pike and Joy Rondeau. At the Games, Team USA secured an unprecedented 16 medals, including six gold, seven silver and three bronze. Of the 16 medals, nine were secured in cross-country races and seven were in biathlon events.
Follow results from Vuokatti with the Team USA medal tracker:
Wednesday, Dec. 12 - middle-distance cross-country
GOLD
- Dan Cnossen – men’s sitting
Thursday, Dec. 13 - short-distance cross-country
GOLD
- Dan Cnossen - men's sitting
SILVER
- Kendall Gretsch - women's sitting
Other top-10 finishes
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8th: Joy Rondeau - women's sitting
Saturday, Dec. 15 - middle-distance biathlon
GOLD
- Kendall Gretsch - women's sitting
BRONZE
- Dan Cnossen - men's sitting
Other top-10 finishes
-
5th: Aaron Pike - men's sitting
-
5th: Joy Rondeau - women's sitting
Sunday, Dec. 16 - cross-country sprint
GOLD
- Oksana Masters - women's sitting
BRONZE
- Dan Cnossen - men's sitting
Other top-10 finishes:
- 4th: Kendall Gretsch - women's sitting
- 4th: Aaron Pike - men's sitting
Tuesday, Dec. 18 - biathlon sprint
GOLD
- Kendall Gretsch - women's sitting
- Dan Cnossen - men's sitting
BRONZE
- Oksana Masters - women's sitting
Other top-10 finishes:
- 10th: Aaron Pike - men's sitting
Wednesday, Dec. 19 - biathlon pursuit
GOLD
- Kendall Gretsch - women's sitting
- Dan Cnossen - men's sitting
SILVER
- Oksana Masters - women's sitting
Other top-10 finishes:
- 5th: Aaron Pike - men's sitting
Full results can be found here.
RECAP
Team USA picked up where it left off in PyeongChang, finding itself on the podium with at least one gold medal each day of competition. Of the thirteen medals claimed, Cnossen took home six, while Gretsch and Masters secured four and three, respectively. The next competition for the Nordic team will be nationals, held Jan. 3-5 in Craftsbury, Vermont. Following nationals, Team USA will continue the world cup circuit in Ostersund, Sweden from Jan. 12-19.
What an incredible TEAM effort this was. @USParaNordic skis were flying yesterday. I’m still in disbelief. There’s so much more work to be done, but I’m happy with this starting point of my process. https://t.co/qWs0ahS136
— Oksana Masters (@OksanaMasters) December 17, 2018
No wonder she's smiling!😀 Double biathlon gold in #Vuokatti2018 for @USParaNordic's @KendallGretsch !🥇🥇#ParaNordic pic.twitter.com/Qd0BI2PmG5
— Para Nordic Skiing (@ParaNordic) December 18, 2018
