The Kootenays earned one gold, two silver and two bronze medals on the opening day of the 2026 Trail-Rossland B.C. Winter Games, moving into an early tie atop the medal standings with the Thompson-Okanagan region.
Cross-country skiing accounted for several of those podium finishes. Rossland’s Annika Heale captured the region’s first gold medal in the women’s race, while fellow Rosslander Annika Merg claimed bronze. In the men’s race, Golden’s Samuel Poulin won silver and Nelson’s Philemon Hetu took bronze.
In biathlon, Kimberley’s Nara Bird secured silver in the women’s individual event, giving the Kootenays their second silver medal of the Games.
Events in archery, figure skating, curling, ringette, wheelchair basketball, judo and badminton also got underway.
Competitions for alpine skiing, freestyle skiing, rhythmic gymnastics, artistic gymnastics, speed skating and karate are set to begin on day two.
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