Uploaded November 2023 | Updated September 2026, 4 hours ago
Joeita speaks to paralympic cross-country skiier and gold medalist Natalie Wilkie. This is the third of a three part series profiling the 2023 inductees to the Canada Disability Hall of Fame.
Synopsis
This episode of The Pulse, host Joeita Gupta and guest, King Clancy Award winner and Paralympic cross-country skier, Natalie Wilkie discuss parasport and determination, highlighting the achievements of Paralympic athletes. The perception of people with disabilities as objects of pity has been shattered by the competitiveness and sportsmanship displayed in Paralympic games. Despite facing a life-altering accident, Wilkie returned to skiing just two weeks later and went on to win gold, silver, and bronze medals at the 2018 Paralympic Games. The interview explores Wilkie's journey, including her introduction to the parasport and the challenges and strategies involved in cross-country skiing. Additionally, Wilkie shares her passion for painting, photography, and training horses.
Episode Highlights:
Show Open (00:00)
What It Means to Be The Recipient of the King Clancy Award (2:50)
How Natalie Got Her Start in Cross Country Skiing (3:46)
Participating in the Paralympic Games (8:39)
The Differences Between Para-Cross-Country Skiing & Able-Bodied Skiing (9:40)
The Draw of Competition (12:18)
Achieving Positive Work-Life Balance (14:03)
The Impact of Natalie's Legacy on People with Disabilities (20:17)
Life Aspirations Going Forward (22:24)
About
Natalie Wilkie burst onto the international scene at the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games. At age 17, she was the youngest member of the Canadian team. In South Korea, Wilkie prevailed over her more experienced rivals to take a much-celebrated gold in the women’s middle distance standing. She followed that up with bronze in the sprint and silver in the mixed relay. As a result, she received the Canadian Paralympic Sport Award for Best Paralympic Debut by a Female Athlete. Wilkie lost four fingers on her left hand in an accident during woodwork class at school in 2016.
Link: paralympic.ca/team-canada/natalie-wilkie
About The Pulse
On The Pulse, host Joeita Gupta brings us closer to issues impacting the disability community across Canada.
Joeita Gupta has nurtured a life-long dream to work in radio! She's blind, moved to Toronto in 2004 and got her start in radio at CKLN, 88.1 FM in Toronto. A former co-host of AMI-audio's Live from Studio 5, Joeita also works full-time at a nonprofit in Toronto, specializing in housing/tenant rights.
The Pulse airs weekly on AMI-audio and is available as a podcast on your favourite platform. For more information, visit amiplus.ca/m/0/episode?seriesId=81331440-8e73-4b5b-aff1-1e8ca4a85790&app-config=%2Fc%2Fpodcasts
Follow Joeita on Twitter: twitter.com/joeitagupta
Like the Pulse on Facebook: facebook.com/the.pulse.ami
Subscribe to this channel: youtube.com/channel/UCpSCygsB9AFBhl_mhK86C6g?sub_confirmation=1
About AMI
AMI is a not-for-profit media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians who are blind or partially sighted. Operating three broadcast services, AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French, AMI’s vision is to establish and support a voice for Canadians with disabilities, representing their interests, concerns and values through inclusion, representation, accessible media, reflection, representation and portrayal.
Learn more at AMI.ca
Connect on Twitter @AccessibleMedia
On Instagram @accessiblemediainc
On Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
On TikTok @accessiblemediainc
Email feedback@ami.ca
Joeita speaks to paralympic cross-country skiier and gold medalist Natalie Wilkie. This is the third of a three part series profiling the 2023 inductees to the Canada Disability Hall of Fame.
Synopsis
This episode of The Pulse, host Joeita Gupta and guest, King Clancy Award winner and Paralympic cross-country skier, Natalie Wilkie discuss parasport and determination, highlighting the achievements of Paralympic athletes. The perception of people with disabilities as objects of pity has been shattered by the competitiveness and sportsmanship displayed in Paralympic games. Despite facing a life-altering accident, Wilkie returned to skiing just two weeks later and went on to win gold, silver, and bronze medals at the 2018 Paralympic Games. The interview explores Wilkie's journey, including her introduction to the parasport and the challenges and strategies involved in cross-country skiing. Additionally, Wilkie shares her passion for painting, photography, and training horses.
Episode Highlights:
Show Open (00:00)
What It Means to Be The Recipient of the King Clancy Award (2:50)
How Natalie Got Her Start in Cross Country Skiing (3:46)
Participating in the Paralympic Games (8:39)
The Differences Between Para-Cross-Country Skiing & Able-Bodied Skiing (9:40)
The Draw of Competition (12:18)
Achieving Positive Work-Life Balance (14:03)
The Impact of Natalie's Legacy on People with Disabilities (20:17)
Life Aspirations Going Forward (22:24)
About
Natalie Wilkie burst onto the international scene at the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games. At age 17, she was the youngest member of the Canadian team. In South Korea, Wilkie prevailed over her more experienced rivals to take a much-celebrated gold in the women’s middle distance standing. She followed that up with bronze in the sprint and silver in the mixed relay. As a result, she received the Canadian Paralympic Sport Award for Best Paralympic Debut by a Female Athlete. Wilkie lost four fingers on her left hand in an accident during woodwork class at school in 2016.
Link: paralympic.ca/team-canada/natalie-wilkie
About The Pulse
On The Pulse, host Joeita Gupta brings us closer to issues impacting the disability community across Canada.
Joeita Gupta has nurtured a life-long dream to work in radio! She's blind, moved to Toronto in 2004 and got her start in radio at CKLN, 88.1 FM in Toronto. A former co-host of AMI-audio's Live from Studio 5, Joeita also works full-time at a nonprofit in Toronto, specializing in housing/tenant rights.
The Pulse airs weekly on AMI-audio and is available as a podcast on your favourite platform. For more information, visit amiplus.ca/m/0/episode?seriesId=81331440-8e73-4b5b-aff1-1e8ca4a85790&app-config=%2Fc%2Fpodcasts
Follow Joeita on Twitter: twitter.com/joeitagupta
Like the Pulse on Facebook: facebook.com/the.pulse.ami
Subscribe to this channel: youtube.com/channel/UCpSCygsB9AFBhl_mhK86C6g?sub_confirmation=1
About AMI
AMI is a not-for-profit media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians who are blind or partially sighted. Operating three broadcast services, AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French, AMI’s vision is to establish and support a voice for Canadians with disabilities, representing their interests, concerns and values through inclusion, representation, accessible media, reflection, representation and portrayal.
Learn more at AMI.ca
Connect on Twitter @AccessibleMedia
On Instagram @accessiblemediainc
On Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
On TikTok @accessiblemediainc
Email feedback@ami.ca
