Yorke Parkin, Revelstoke alpine ski racer and Team Canada athlete was top of the podium in Italy at the 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games. Parkin scored three gold medals in Advanced Slalom, Advanced Giant Slalom and Advanced Super G races.
“It was a nice experience to race in Italy and ski in different conditions,” Parkin told Revelstoke Mountaineer via email. The races proved some of the hardest he’s taken on in his four years of alpine skiing with the Special Olympics, and Parkin said he’s proud of his results and thankful for the support locally and internationally. Family members from around the world came out to cheer on Parkin during his six days of competition.
At 16 years old and currently one of the youngest members of Team Canada, the wins on the world stage could mark a long journey with Team Canada for Parkin, or the start of something new.
“I could keep on doing Special Olympics ski racing until I’m 50, and I really need to think about that and my next steps. Do I want to keep racing and winning? Or do I want to stop skiing and start coaching?” Parkin told Revelstoke Mountaineer in a previous interview. If he continues to compete, Parkin also said he would have to consider whether to keep training locally with Revelstoke Ski Club or possibly connect with other Special Olympics clubs in B.C. to see what training options they provide.
There’s one particular trait needed from an athlete to coach and compete, and it’s a trait one of Parkon’s coaches, Saige Beaumont, saw from him in spades.
“Yorke was there to support and motivate his teammates. The games were go, go, go and could be quite emotionally and physically taxing. We really all came together as a strong team to support each other,” Beaumont told Revelstoke Mountaineer in a written statement. She traveled with Parkin and the rest of his team to cheer on all the Team Canada athletes during the events from March 8 to March 15. Beaumont said joy was high in the crowd each time Parkin crossed the finish line and stepped onto the podium.
Special Olympics Team Canada came home with 39 gold medals, 48 silver and 38 bronze across five different sports. Ninety athletes wore Team Canada’s colours during the seven days of competition.
“It’s a pretty special moment, “ Parkin told audiences in an Instagram post. “I feel pretty good.”
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