Watching his brother carry Canada’s flag into the closing ceremonies of the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games was the icing on the cake for Menno Arendz.
Menno and the rest of his family were filled with pride after seeing his brother, Mark Arendz, dominate this year’s Winter Games held in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
Mark, 28, was the most successful member of Team Canada after winning five individual medals, a gold, a silver and three bronze, as well as a cross-country mixed relay silver medal. He now has the record for most medals won by a Canadian in a single Paralympic Winter Games and was selected as Canada’s flag bearer for the closing ceremony.
“I couldn’t be prouder of Mark, he really does work hard and I’m sure he has plenty more years in the sport,” said Menno, who also coaches with Rocky Mountain Racers, out of Canmore, Alta. where Mark trains. “It’s a big thing it’s unprecedented. I’ll be honest, I didn’t expect this many medals but it’s fantastic…. And the support he’s received from everyone has been unreal.”
Mark’s individual gold and silver medals were in biathlon. One of his bronze medals was in biathlon while the other two were in cross-country.
Every medal win was a surreal moment for Mark’s father Johan and mother Janny.
“It was amazing, it’s almost surreal because you’re watching and thinking ‘this couldn’t be happening’. Six races and six medals,” said Janny, noting how well the entire team performed.
In a statement, Mark praised the commitment of his entire team for contributing to what was Canada’s greatest Paralympic outing with a record 28 medals.
“The hard work, dedication and commitment of every member of the team contributed to Canada’s most successful Paralympic Winter Games,” said Mark, who is originally from Hartsville, P.E.I. “Whether athlete, coach, staff, or official, everyone showcased their commitment to the task and pride for the Canadian flag in what they did to help achieve this historic Games.”
Johan said his son’s wins still have to “sink in”
“Every time he raced, especially during the last two, you’re thinking ‘this cannot be happening, this cannot be real’,” said Johan. “But it is.”
Johan said Mark has always been one to take everything “a step further” and noted that his silver medal finish, which was only 0.7 of a second behind the first-place finisher, at the Sochi Olympics was a major motivator.
“That bugged him up the wall, that was his inspiration,” said Johan, also remarking on the intense amount of training, about 900 hours in the past year, that Mark has put in. “(Competing at the Paralympics) is the tip of the iceberg. There’s so much work that goes on underneath.”
Janny said her son has always been strong and determined, qualities that only grew following a farm accident that left Mark’s left arm amputated when he was young.
“Even before his accident, he was a determined little guy and he was very independent,” she said. “After the accident, it was more of the same. But he had to prove to himself and everybody else that he could do whatever he put his mind to.
“He’s always really had a positive attitude towards sports and life in general.”
Mark will be competing again before he returns home from his Paralympic wins.
He will compete in the 2018 Canadian Biathlon Championships being held in Charlo, N.B. this week.
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Twitter.com/Mitch_PEI
