Cross-country skier Colette Bourgonje wins Canada's first medal at 2010 Paralympics

Canada has won its first medal of Vancouver's 2010 Paralympic Winter Games.

Today (March 14) at Whistler Paralympic Park, Colette Bourgonje of Saskatoon earned a silver medal in women's 10-kilometre sitting cross-country skiing.

Bourgonje posted a time of 31 minutes and 49.80 seconds.

"Wow - I'm shocked and I can't believe it. I don't think it has sunk in yet," Bourgonje said after her race, according to a press release from the Canadian Paralympic Committee. "I am still racing because I wanted to compete at a Paralympics in Canada and I'm just so proud to have done this in front of Canadians. I share this medal with all of Canada."

Liudmila Vauchok of Belarus took the gold medal with a time of 30 minutes and 52.90 seconds.

Olena Iurkovska of Ukraine got the bronze.

Bourgonje raced on the national level in cross-country running before a car accident injured her spinal cord.

The 48-year-old fourth-grade teacher has now won nine Paralympic medals at summer and winter events.

With one medal each, Canada and five other countries are tied for fourth place in the overall medal standings on the second day of competition.

Russia is out in front with 10 medals, Ukraine is second with six, and Belarus is third with two.

You can follow Stephen Hui on Twitter at twitter.com/stephenhui.