Thurston won a gold medal at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics in wheelchair curling on March 14 with teammates Mark Ideson, Ina Forrest, Collinda Joseph and Gilbert Dash.
Since his gold medal, Thurston has already had a community celebration in Dusford. He was also part of the ceremonial puck drop for the Peterborough Petes on March 19.
He trained at the Peterborough Curling Club and Bobcaygeon Curling Club.
This was Thurston’s second medal as he earned bronze at the 2022 Beijing Paralympic Games. The Dunsford native has been on the last six world championship teams, earning silver in 2020, 2023, 2024 and bronze last year.
According to the Canadian Paralympic Committee, Thurston suffered a work injury that left him paralyzed in 2008. He was working on a construction site when an unexpected storm caused the building he was in to collapse. During his escape, part of the building collapsed on his back.
