Paralympic wake-up call: McKeever, Wilkie push late for Para cross-country gold medals

Two Canadian athletes of distinct generations came from behind to strike gold at the Beijing Paralympics on Wednesday.

42-year-old five-time Paralympian Brian McKeever captured the 15th Paralympic title of his decorated career with a men's visually impaired cross-country skiing sprint win.

Shortly before that, two-time Paralympian Natalie Wilkie, who is half McKeever's age, won the women's standing Para cross-country skiing sprint event for her fifth career medal.

Both athletes had to push late in their races to collect Canada's sixth and seventh top prizes in Beijing.

McKeever, of Canmore, Alta., overtook American Jake Adicoff, 26, to finish less than a second ahead of him with a time of three minutes 19.5 seconds.

It was the 19th overall medal claimed by the legendary Paralympian, who's set to retire after these Games. In Beijing, McKeever also won the men's visually impaired 20-kilometre cross-country race on Monday.

WATCH l McKeever adds to his legacy with 15th Paralympic gold medal:

Wilkie displayed a similar fortitude in her event.

The Salmon Arm, B.C., native was able to cut through the big lead Vilde Nilsen of Norway established early in the race to pass her in the final metres for a time of four minutes 5.1 seconds, 3 seconds faster than silver medallist Nilsen.

It was the 21-year-old's second gold medal in Beijing, following a women's standing 15km cross-country skiing title on Monday. In PyeongChang 2018, Wilkie captured a medal of each colour as Team Canada's youngest Paralympian.

Read more about McKeever's 15th Paralympic gold medal and Wilkie's 2nd gold medal in Beijing.

WATCH l Canada's Wilkie skis to 2nd gold medal of the Beijing Paralympics:

On a sportsmanship note, both McKeever and Wilkie made sure to compliment the silver medallist in their races.

Here's more of what you missed on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning in the Beijing Paralympics:

Canada's Cameron adds bronze

Make that three Canadians who claimed a second medal in Beijing on Wednesday.

Collin Cameron, of Bracebridge, Ont., skied to a men's sitting sprint Para cross-country skiing event bronze medal. The 33-year-old finished with a time of two minutes 46.3 seconds, behind the Chinese duo of Zheng Peng and Mao Zhongwu.

It was Cameron's second of these Games following a third-place performance in the men's 18km sitting cross-country race on Sunday.

Read more about Cameron's Para cross-country bronze.

WATCH l Cameron wins his 2nd bronze in Beijing:

Pivotal wins for Canada in wheelchair curling

The yellow alert is now off for Canada's wheelchair curling team.

The squad, led by skip Mark Ideson and co-flag-bearer Ina Forrest, was able to break away from a three-match skid with a 6-3 victory over Great Britain, followed by a 9-3 win over Estonia.

Getting back in the win column means Canada (6-3) moves ahead of Slovakia (5-3) for third in its round robin campaign. Only China (6-2) and Sweden (6-2) have a better record.

WATCH Canada moves closer to semifinal berth with victory over Estonia:

The Canadians have their final preliminary round match to play on Wednesday (Norway at 8:30 p.m. ET). If they are able to hold on to a top-four spot, they'll advance to the semifinals.

Read more about Canada's wheelchair curling wins over Estonia and Great Britain.

WATCH Canada ends 3-game skid with win over Great Britain:

Canada, South Korea meet again in Para hockey semis

Canada's men's Para ice hockey team will face a familiar opponent for a berth in the gold medal game.

The Canadians secured its first win at the Beijing Paralympics with a 6-0 victory over South Korea on Monday, and both teams set to compete again on Thursday at 10:50 p.m. ET in the tournament's first semifinal matchup.

South Korea advanced to the next round with a 4-0 shutout against Italy in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.

WATCH l Dunn hat trick sends Canada into Para ice hockey semis:

Despite a 5-0 loss to the U.S. in the opener on Saturday, Canada finished second in a three-team Group A to secure an automatic spot in the semifinals.

The U.S. and China will play on Friday at 6:50 a.m. ET in the other semifinal.

Ukrainian Paralympian pulls out of Games

Team Ukraine has collected 19 medals at the Beijing Paralympics so far, giving residents of the country something to celebrate amid Russia's ongoing military invasion.

But on Tuesday night, Ukrainian athlete Anastasiia Laletina pulled out of the Beijing Paralympics after her father, who serves in Ukraine's military, was captured by Russian forces.

Laletina will remain with her teammates in China until the end of the Games, when Ukrainian Paralympians will fly to Poland.

Read more about Laletina's pulling out of the Beijing Paralympics.