A pair of cross country skiing sisters from Salmon Arm, B.C., are both representing Canada on the world stage, for the first time ever, this week.

Natalie Wilkie, 25, is competing at her third Paralympic Games and has been named as one of Canada’s flag bearers.

Her little sister Madeleine, 18, qualified for her first national team and debuted her Maple Leaf-adorned uniform at the World Junior Cross-Country Ski Championships in Norway this week.

After finishing her races in Norway, Madeleine will fly to Italy to cheer on her sister.

“We’re like the Paralympic power couple or like, sister-couple,” said Natalie on a video call from the national Paralympic training centre in Canmore, Alta.

WATCH | Salmon Arm, B.C., ski sisters to compete on world stage:

She said it has been amazing to watch her sister transition from being a little kid learning to ski, to a powerhouse on the international stage.

“I’m just so proud of her because she’s worked so hard for everything that she has gotten, and it is really, really cool to see her finally wearing the Team Canada suit,” said Natalie.

“People aren’t going to be able to tell us apart,” joked Madeleine at the Larch Hills Society Nordic Club in Salmon Arm, while wearing her new Team Canada uniform.

She said in addition to looking similar, both her and Natalie wear lucky French braids for races and will often add glitter on their cheeks, to keep competition fun.

Madeleine said her older sister is her role model, both on and off skis. 

The sisters grew up three minutes from the Larch Hills Nordic Ski trails, and learned to ski as soon as they could walk.

Natalie lost her ability to hold a ski pole in one hand after an incident in high school and the injury was devastating for the entire Wilkie family. Madeline said through that hard time, she remembers her sister’s toughness and perseverance.

She remembers her sister saying, “This is dumb to be here moping, I’m just going to make the best of it,” and watched her lace up her running shoes two weeks after the incident to resume training.

Soon after her injury, Natalie was contacted by the Para nordic team and began training for her first Paralympics Games.

“But definitely, like, having younger sister, I wanted to set a good example. Life throws challenges at us, but it’s all about like how we deal with them and move forward,” said Natalie.

This winter, when Madeleine came to Canmore to try out for the junior national team she was sick and injured. Thankfully, her big sister was there to help her persevere, get gritty, and keep things in perspective.

“She’ll get me into a good mood and sometimes she yells like funny things at me while I’m racing and it just, like, brings me back to reality that I’m here and having fun,” said Madeleine.

Despite being under the weather, Madeleine made the team as one of the youngest members.

The sisters said they love to train and goof around on the trails together when Natalie is home, or when Madeleine visits the national training centre in Canmore.

“It’s fun, just how goofy we can get with our training,” said Madeline.

Both sisters said they enjoy training together because they both like to be silly, have different strengths and love to push each other.

“Every time we go running she’s like, ‘Hey, do you want to do some sprints?’ And I know she’s asking because she knows she can beat me,” joked Natalie.

Madeleine said it has been amazing to grow up with, cheer for and train with such an amazing role model.