For Jess Kryski, an exercise physiologist who’s lived in Nakusp for five years, traveling with Team Canada to Italy next Sunday, Feb. 22, will mark the start of her third Paralympics.
While not competing as an athlete at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, running from March 6 to 15, Kryski will play an integral role behind the scenes for cross-country and biathlon events as an integrated sport team lead and physiologist.
“It will be nice to be a non-COVID games,” she said, recounting the pandemic restrictions at the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympic Games, which she attended after the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games. “I’ve been working with some of these athletes through most of their career.”
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Before reaching Italy, Canada’s dozen para cross-country and para biathlon athletes and their support team of nearly 20 personnel — including three guides for visually impaired competitors — will first stop in Obertilliach, Austria, as a staging ground. Some skiers will be debuting in the Paralympics this March — for others, it’s their fifth games.
Working largely with Team Canada, Kryski will support athlete development and integration, along with performing various tasks to ensure events run smoothly. This includes being among the earliest to wake up each morning — though not as early as the wax technicians — to help test skis and lay out blankets for the air rifles, and assisting throughout the day with running skis, doping control, recovery baths and massage care.
“Just making sure things are set up and accessible for athletes when they need them,” she summarized.
Originally from Rossland, Kryski grew up as a swimmer and studied kinesiology at the University of Calgary, while also coaching the swim club in Trail. To date, she’s worked closely with Nordiq Canada, the Canadian Sport Institute Alberta and Biathlon Canada.
“It’s an exciting area,” she described para athletics, calling her job at the Paralympics challenging but rewarding and ever-changing. “Always fun to find a different role in the field of play.”
Kryski anticipates less support being available to athletes this winter compared to previous games, due to the various event clusters and sport venues. She said strong communication and more on-the-ground assistance from her and other helpers — “to be their eyes and ears and hands where needed” — will prove key to athletes’ success.
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Revelstoke massage therapist Sarah Stephen, who works at Revelstoke Integrative Health, will also be coming along and bringing her skills to Milano Cortina for the next three weeks.
“She’ll be a big part of helping the athletes in the recovery efforts,” Kryski said. “She’s been an awesome addition.”
Overall, Kryski is looking forward to watching athletes grow and share their successes with those closest to them.
“Just getting to see them with their friends and family will be pretty special,” she said.