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Veteran and rookie Alpine skiers win gold for Canada at Paralympic Games

Josh Dueck is a shining light on and off the mountain. Sochi marks his second Paralympic Games where he has won a silver medal in the men’s downhill and a spectacular come back in the men’s super combined to capture the gold medal. Perhaps even more than his talent on his ski, Josh is known for his gracious and humble attitude for sport and life.

[Josh Dueck 'nearly speechless' at gold-medal win in Sochi]

Rookie Paralympian 16 year-old Mac Marcoux is following strongly in the footsteps of his mentors. Mac had won a bronze medal earlier in the games followed by a few challenging races with disappointing results. The day before Mac’s last race in his debut Paralympic Games he met Brian McKeever. Brian is a 9-time Paralympic gold medallist in Nordic skiing and has the same visual impairment as Mac. On Saturday, Mac and his guide Robin Femy skied the race of their lives and won the gold medal in the men’s giant slalom.

[PHOTOS: Golden day for Canada in Sochi]

There is a strong feeling of family between the Canadian Para-Alpine Team. They have created a supportive environment that fosters high performance results. Winning eight medals for Canada thus far in the Games, they are fuelled by their motto “Pedal to the Carpet”, the French translation of “Pedal to the Metal.” From rookies like Mac Marcoux, to veterans like Josh Dueck, every skier on the team has brought their skiing to whole new level at these Winter Paralympic Games in Sochi. Many of them will come home with medals around their necks. All of them will come home proud, knowing they left everything they had on the mountain.

You can see the commitment and family feeling that spurs the Canadian Para-Alpine team to greatness in this pre-Paralympics video: