Background to National Ski Team:
After getting started by racing competitively while in a Jackrabbit program, Graham progressed on to the Yukon Ski Team, led by 1988 Olympian Alain Masson. Graham’s dedication to the sport resulted in him moving to Canmore, Alta. in 2002 to pursue cross-country ski racing full time. Graham qualified to represent Canada at the World Championships in 2013 for the first time at the elite level. Shortly after, he joined teammate, and friend, Brian McKeever in 2014 where he helped guide him to three gold medals at the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games. Exercising an innovative strategy to overcome the challenging race conditions in Sochi, Russia, McKeever utilized both of his training partners and guides, Graham and Erik Carleton, in the 20-kilometre classic-ski race and the 10-kilometre skate-ski race, to win the gold. Graham also guided McKeever to a thrilling victory in the sprint race at the Games.
Team McKeever was back making history in 2018. Exercising a two-guide strategy with Graham and Russell Kennedy, Brian went on to win three more golds and a bronze medal at the 2018 Games.
Graham helped guide Brian McKeever throughout the last quadrennial which began by winning one gold at the World Championships and two more on the IPC World Cup in 2015. In there only two Para-Nordic starts in 2016, Graham guided McKeever to back-to-back gold medals at the IPC World Cup Finals. They continued their dominance in 2017 with one gold on the World Cup before winning back-to-back golds in their two starts at the IPC World Championships in 2017.
Introduction to Cross-Country Skiing:
With the Great North as his playground, Graham Nishikawa began his ski career exploring the trails in and around Whitehorse, Yukon. Graham began as a Jackrabbit in the Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club, and worked his way up to the Territorial Experimental Ski Training program. The T.E.S.T program began in Inuvik in the 1970’s as a project developed by Father J.M. Mouchet to encourage promising athletes in Canada’s North. Graham was drawn to Cross Country Skiing because it combined great camaraderie, activity and the outdoors.
Personal:
His sister Emily competed at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games and placed 42nd in the 15-kilometre distance. Nishikawa began his ski career exploring the trails in and around Whitehorse, Yukon. He was drawn to cross country skiing because it combined great camaraderie, activity and the outdoors. He is taking correspondence courses from Athabasca University and working towards a Bachelor of Commerce degree. Enjoys fly fishing.
Paralympic Results:
2018 – Paralympic Winter Games, PyeongChang, Korea: 1 (20km F); 1 (10km C); 3 (Open Relay)
2014 – Paralympic Winter Games, Sochi, RUS: 1 (Sprint F)
World Championship Results:
2017 – IPC World Championships, Finsterau, GER: 1 (Middle Free), 1 (Long Classic)
2015 – IPC World Championships, Cable, USA: 1 (Long Distance)
2013 – World Ski Championships, Val di Fiemme, ITA: 48 (50km Mst)
2013 – World Ski Championships, Val di Fiemme, ITA: 39 (15km F)
2013 – World Ski Championships, Val di Fiemme, ITA: 51 (30km Skiathlon)
World Cup Results:
2018 – IPC World Cup, Obberied, GER: 2 (Long Distance Free)
2018 – IPC World Cup, Oberried, GER: 1 (Middle Distance Classic)
2018 – IPC World Cup, Oberried, GER: 1 (Sprint Free)
2017 – IPC World Cup, Vuokatti, FIN: 1 (Sprint Classic)
2016 – IPC World Cup Finals, Vuokatti, FIN: 1 (Middle Free), 1 (Long Classic)
2015 – IPC World Cup, Asahikawa, JPN: 1 (Middle Distance), 1 (Long Distance)
2013 – World Cup, Canmore, CAN: 15 (30km Skiathlon)
2013 – World Cup, Canmore, CAN: 38 (15km Mst)
National Results:
2013 – Haywood Ski Nationals, Whistler, B.C.: 2 (Sprint C)
2013 – Haywood Ski Nationals, Whistler, B.C.: 2 (10km F)
2013 – Haywood NorAm, Nakkertok, Ont.: 3 (30km C Pursuit)
2013 – Haywood NorAm, Nakkertok, Ont.: 2 (15km F)
2013 – Haywood NorAm, Duntroon, Ont.: 1 (15km F)
2013 – Haywood NorAm, Duntroon, Ont.: 3 (Sprint C)
2013 – Haywood NorAm, Thunder Bay, Ont.: 1 (30km Skiathlon)
2013 – Haywood NorAm, Vernon, B.C.: 1 (15km F)
2012 – Haywood NorAm, Canmore, Alta.: 1 (15km F Pursuit)
2012 – Haywood NorAm, Whistler, B.C.: 2 (Sprint F)
2011 – Haywood NorAm, Whistler, B.C.: 3 (Skiathlon 30km Mst)
2011 - Haywood NorAm, Cantley, Que.: 1 (30km C)
2011 – Haywood NorAM, Cantley, Que.: 1 (35km M)
2011 – Haywood NorAm, Cantley, Que.: 2 (Sprint F)
2011 – Haywood NorAm, Cantley, Que.: 1 (3.3km F)
2011 – Haywood NorAm, Telemark SC: 2 (20km F)
2011 – Haywood NorAm, Telemark SC: 2 (15km Pursuit)
2011 – Haywood NorAm, Telemark SC: 3 (3.5km C)
2011 – Haywood NorAm, Orford, Que.: 1 (39km M)
2011 – Haywood NorAm, Orford, Que.: 1 (20km Pursuit)
2011 – Haywood NorAm, Orford, Que.: 1 (10km C)
2011 – Haywood NorAm, Orford, Que.: 1 (4km C)
2011 – Haywood NorAm, Thunder Bay, Ont.: 2 (15km F)
2011 – Haywood NorAm, Thunder Bay, Ont.: 2 (30km Pursuit)
2010 – Haywood NorAm, Vernon, B.C.: 2 (15km F)
2010 – Haywood NorAm, Vernon, B.C.: 3 (Sprint C)