Image
My name is Emma Archibald, and I'm from Fall River, Nova Scotia. I was born with amniotic band syndrome and suspected clubbed feet, which were corrected, but as a result, I’m missing some fingers and toes. In June 2019, I took part in a Paralympic Search event in Halifax, where I was identified for 7 different sports including Para Cross Country Skiing. Growing up, I had been involved in various competitive able body sports, so this was an exciting opportunity to explore the para sports world. Later that fall, I connected with the Nova Scotia Provincial Ski Team, who welcomed me warmly into the skiing community.
In November 2019, I attended a Paranordic Development Camp in Canmore, Alberta, where I tried cross country skiing for the first time. I continued to train and improve with the NS Ski Team throughout my Grade 11 and 12 years and continued to fall in love with the sport and the community. After graduating from high school, I enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at the University of Ottawa and became a member of the UOttawa Nordiq Ski Team, later becoming very involved and taking on the role as Women's Team Captain.
I progressed quickly in the sport, earning a spot on the National Prospects Team after holding the National Champion title for three years. At 21, I qualified for my first World Cup season and qualified directly to the World Cup National Team. I recently turned 22 and am now preparing for the upcoming Paralympic year. During my debut World Cup season, I finished third overall in the standings, with my best result being a fourth-place finish in the sprint event. Throughout the season, I consistently placed in the top half of my field. Although I narrowly missed qualifying for the World Cup Team this year and moved to the NextGen team, I continued to place solidly in the top half of the field and was just short of meeting the selection criteria. Despite this, my coaches are very pleased with my progress and acknowledge that last season was a major leap forward. However, being on the NextGen team means I now have to cover some of the costs for World Cup trips and training camps—on top of managing university tuition, rent, and other living expenses. I’m currently an active member of the community, serving as the para athlete representative on the Nordiq Canada Board of Directors. My goal is to stay focused on my education, training, and advocacy work—without the added burden of financial stress interfering with these priorities.