Hudak’s Pursuit of Paralympic Precision

By By Greg Campbell BFA’84, BJ’95

From University of Regina classrooms to the podium at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, Brittany Hudak BSW’19 embodies experience, resilience, and discipline in her fourth Paralympic run.

For Brittany Hudak BSW’19, the road to the Paralympic podium didn’t begin on a groomed ski trail. It began in an aisle of a Canadian Tire in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, where a chance encounter with Paralympian Colette Bourgonje, a U of R honorary degree recipient, changed everything. Hudak had just finished high school and was working part time at the store, when the 10-time Paralympian and Para nordic skier approached her. 

"She wheeled up to me one day when I was working, and asked me if I had ever heard of the Paralympics," Hudak recalls.  

Now one of Canada’s most accomplished Para nordic athletes, Hudak recently competed in her fourth Paralympic Winter Games – the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games – earning a bronze medal in the 10 kilometer Para Cross-Country event. The experience, she says, felt different — lighter, more joyful, and more fully lived. 

“I loved my experience at the Milano Cortina 2026 Games,” Hudak says. “The 2022 Beijing Paralympic Games was very different because there were no spectators due to COVID, so there wasn’t the same energy while competing. I really appreciated the vibrant atmosphere this time, with people excited to watch.” 

That energy, combined with the confidence of experience, allowed Hudak to approach competition with a steadier mindset. “I also relieved myself of pressure to perform this time around in comparison to the last, which made the whole experience have a lighter tone,” she says. “I enjoyed walking around outside the village and relishing in the entire environment. Italy is an amazing country, and I wanted to enjoy that aspect of the Games.” 

A Paralympic nordic skier glides over a snow-coverd track in a forest setting.
One of Canada’s most accomplished Para nordic athletes, Brittany Hudak recently competed in her fourth Paralympic Winter Games – the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games – earning a bronze medal in the 10 kilometer Para Cross-Country event. Photo courtesy of Brittany Hudak

That balance, between elite performance and perspective, has become one of Hudak’s defining strengths. Having first competed at the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games, she has grown into both a leader and a consistent podium threat, capturing bronze medals at Pyeongchang 2018, Beijing 2022, and most recently in Milan. 

“I was very pleased to win bronze in the 10k classic race,” she says. “Managing a knee injury for 21 months leading into the Games created some doubt about whether I could reach the podium again. Having been on the podium before at Paralympics gave me the confidence that I could achieve those results, but when the moment happens it’s the most incredible feeling.”  

That moment, crossing the finish line and realizing she had done it again, stands as her most vivid memory of the Games. 

“Crossing the finish line and realizing I had placed third, with my team cheering for me, was incredibly special,” Hudak says. “Being able to share that moment with my boyfriend right after made it even more meaningful. I walked over to see him after the race, and we embraced for a hug with tears in our eyes.”

If there is a through line in Hudak’s career, it is resilience, not only physical, but mental and emotional. It is a quality shaped as much in U of R classrooms as on snow-covered trails. 

“During my time at the University of Regina, I developed strong time management skills,” says the graduate of the Faculty of Social Work. “I pursued my degree while competing internationally, which required a high level of discipline and self-motivation.” 

Hudak completed more than half her degree through distance education, juggling training camps, competitions, and coursework across time zones. “I completed over half of my degree online, something I was very grateful for, as it allowed me to balance sport and academics,” she says. “While some of these qualities come naturally to me, they were greatly strengthened through my experience with distance education.” 

That discipline has paid dividends on the world stage, where the margins between medalling and finishing in the middle of the pack are razor thin. It has also helped her manage the unique pressures of the Paralympic spotlight. 

“Having competed at four Games gave me the advantage of knowing what to expect and how to manage my energy,” she says. “Now there are more media requests and a busier environment overall, so I relied on my past experience to navigate it and stay focused on performance. The Games are incredibly exciting, especially your first, but having been through it before helped me feel more comfortable handling distractions.” 

As for what comes next, Hudak isn’t quite ready to close the cover on her athletic story. 

“It’s hard to say at this point whether I’ll commit to another Games,” she says. “You dedicate so much to compete at this level, but I know I’m not ready to be done yet. I love high-performance sport and I plan to compete for another year and see where that takes me. Stay tuned.” 

For an athlete whose journey began with a simple question — “Have you ever considered skiing?”  

The answer, it seems, is still unfolding. 

About the Author

Greg Campbell is an award-winning writer who has spent the past 25 years working in the University of Regina’s Communications unit. For 20 years he served as the editor of Degrees, the U of R’s alumni magazine.

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Later this month, when the Kelly Knapp rink steps out on the Montana's Brier pebbled ice, beneath the bright lights, and the low murmur of a sold-out arena, they know that on this national stage the margins disappear. Every rock carries consequence. Every end can tilt a game.  

On January 11, skip Kelly Knapp BKin'12, lead Mat Ring BKin'16, BAdmin'17, second Dustin Kidby BSc'11, third Brennen Jones BKin'11, and alternate Trent Knapp BAdmin'12, punched their ticket to the men's national championship in St. John's, Newfoundland, from February 27 to March 8.  

This is not the first time this group has seen the national spotlight. It's essentially the same team that represented Saskatchewan at the 2023 Brier. The only differences are Ring's new role as lead, Trent Knapp moving from lead to alternate, and Kidby replacing former second Mike Armstrong.  

Skip Knapp doesn't label this Brier repeat as improbable. Intentional? Perhaps. Earned? Certainly. 

"I think we assembled this team knowing qualifying for the Brier was an attainable goal," he says. "In saying that, you always have to feel like you are performing well through the season and peaking at the right time. I felt like we got stronger as the season progressed." 

The turning point came in Martensville when the rink qualified for the playoffs at the Grand Slam of Curling event. Something clicked. 

"It gave us a ton of confidence going into provincials a few weeks later," Knapp says. "Our results there affirmed we could compete against some of the best teams in the world." 

For a team balancing careers, families, and responsibilities beyond the ice, confidence has to be held tightly when it comes. They don't chase every event. They don't criss-cross the country every weekend. Their schedule is deliberate. 

Coach Brian McCusker sees that restraint as a strength. 

"They don't have the flexibility in jobs and family commitments to travel out of province to cash spiels, or to play every weekend," he says. "But when they do play, they have the maturity and drive to treat every game like a championship game. They rarely ever have an off game, and if one player has a rough game, the others always have his back." 

individual curling This is skip Kelly Knapp's second trip to the Brier having represented Saskatchewan at the 2024 Brier. Photo by Wanda Harron

Every curling team develops a personality over the course of a season. That steadiness, that refusal to crack under pressure, has become part of the team's identity. Brennen Jones describes the team as tight and competitive in equal measure. 

"Kelly, Dustin, Brian and I have been together for quite some time, so it was important this year to find someone who shared a similar mindset and personality," he says. "We spend a lot of time together on and off the ice throughout the season, and having fun is a huge part of what makes us successful." 

In the team's world, fun means relentless competition, card games in hotel rooms, strategy debates over meals, and a steady current of jokes that keep the mood light when stakes climb. 

"We joke around a lot, play games, we're extremely competitive, and really prioritize team bonding and building," Jones says. "Our identity is being a tight-knit group that supports each other while enjoying the process. Having fun is the most important piece for us." 

Kidby echoes that sentiment when asked about behind-the-scenes rituals that fans never see. 

"Spending time together and enjoying each other's company is a big help to being grounded out on the ice and always having each other's backs," he says. 

The foundation of that camaraderie runs deep. Twins Kelly and Trent have curled together since childhood, building a shorthand that can't be manufactured. A raised eyebrow, a half-smile, a quick nod in the hack, communication that predates provincial jackets and televised draws. 

Representing Saskatchewan at the Brier is, as Jones puts it, "an incredible honour." Wearing provincial colours never loses its edge. But sharing a University of Regina bond makes this run different. 

"It's pretty unique to be able to say that's [the team's shared alma mater] part of our team identity, not many teams can," Jones says. "Every single player, including our fifth Trent, falls into that category. It makes it really meaningful and something we're proud of."

Smiling individuals. The Knapp rink bettered all the competition at the Sasktel Tankard in Melville in January. Their win earned them a trip to the Montana's Brier being held in St. John's Newfoundland beginning Februrary 27. Team members (left to right) Kelly Knapp, Brennen Jones, Dustin Kidby, Mat Ring, and Trent Knapp. Photo courtesy of CURLSASK

For Mat Ring, the University was more than a stop along the way. It was a launching pad. 

"I would honestly say that my time at the U of R 100 per cent helped launch my professional and athletic careers," Ring says. 

He points to mentor Alison Fisher, who supervised his first placement and opened doors, including a six-month opportunity at the 2016 World Women's Curling Championship, that helped him build professional connections and see the sport from a different vantage point. 

On the ice, the university experience looked different then. Athletes pieced together their own teams and battled for the right to represent the school at Canada West playdowns. 

"My very first year, we actually lost out to Brian's son's team in the U of R final," Ring recalls. "I was fortunate to go with them as a fifth and learn the ropes at that level. An amazing experience that helped launch that part of my curling career." 

Kelly Knapp's path underscores a reality many student-athletes face - timing. 

In a sport where athletes often peak later in life, he was able to prioritize education first, completing both bachelor's and master's degrees and stepping away from competitive curling to finish his physiotherapy program. 

"I just had to find a balance between sport, family and work," he says. "I have an amazing support system so that makes it easier." 

His advice to current University of Regina student-athletes is honest. 

"It's difficult, but achievable," Knapp says. "If you are passionate about your sport and you have goals, I say go for it. But you do have to be conscious of your own priorities and what is being sacrificed." 

Banner photo: Coach Brian McCusker (second from left) remains optimistic heading into the Brier. In his estimation, the team can definitely make the playoffs and at that point, he says, anything is possible.  Photo courtesy of CURLSASK 

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