February 1, 2009 (Vuokatti, Finland) – Canada wrapped up the IPC World Championships by adding two more medals on Sunday, bringing the week-long total to six, in Vuokatti, Finland. Brian and Robin McKeever, who teamed up to win two gold medals and one silver earlier in the week, made their way to the second spot on the podium in the visually impaired sprint race on Sunday.

“Coming in to the week we really had no idea where would stand with the injuries to our bodies,” said Robin McKeever, who along with Brian both sustained early-season rib injuries. “We came out okay and we can’t complain.”

With his 35-year-old brother, Robin, guiding the way, Brian McKeever has now racked up a total of 12 IPC World Championship medals in his eight-year career. “I think it was a good day and pretty solid week in the end because we had to find out what we were working with since it was a slow start to the year with our injuries,” said Brian McKeever, who added earlier in the week. “This is really good competitive racing that helps us build the confidence and preparation we need to compete on the able-bodied side.”

Legally blind with Stargardt’s disease, this is a form of macular degeneration that affects central vision, the 29-year-old Brian McKeever is continuing his quest to become the first winter-sport athlete to compete at both the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2010.

If he meets his goal, it will make him only the second athlete ever in the history of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to accomplish the feat. Two years ago, Brian finished 24th in an able-bodied men’s 15-kilometre classic ski race at the World Championships. The McKeevers will now head to Estonia to compete in a number of able-bodied Scandinavian Cup races.

Another legendary Canadian in Para-Nordic ski racing made her way to the World Championship podium for the first time this week. Saskatoon’s Collette Bourgonje claimed the bronze medal in the women’s sit-ski category. Bourgonje, who qualified for the finals after posting the second-fastest time, was jammed up with the leaders climbing up the final hill into the stadium. Fighting to pass the Italian skier to get into the medals, Bourgonje was too far behind the gold and silver-medallists, and settled for third spot.

Bourgonje, who had to race for a flight back to Canada after a hard-fought battle to the finish line, has won four medals in five trips to the Paralympic Winter Games.

Five other Canadians also competed on the final day of the IPC World Championships but came up short of qualifying for the finals. Robbi Weldon, of Thunder Bay, Ont., and her guide of Brian Berry came within one second of qualifying in the visually impaired women’s division, while Jody Barber, of Smithers, B.C., was also one second short of moving on in the women’s standing category. Mark Arendz, of Springton, P.E.I., and Lou Gibson, of Langley, B.C., did not advance in the men’s standing and sit-ski divisions respectively.

Complete 2009 IPC Cross-Country Skiing World Championship results here.