McKeever pulled into the lead midway through the 20 kilometres cross-country competition for visually-impaired athletes and held on to win Canada's first gold of the Games.

It was the fifth of his career having won four at Turin in 2006.

McKeever said: "That meant a lot.

"That was the one we were waiting to win.

"It's been eight years in the making.

"That's the one we really wanted."

McKeever was set last month to become the first athlete to compete in both the Winter Olympics and Paralympics but a last-minute decision by Canadian coaches left him out of the 50km competition at the Vancouver Games.

The popular 30-year-old athlete from Canmore, Alberta suffers from Stargardt's disease, which has left him with only 10 per cent normal vision.

McKeever won a place on the Olympic team by winning a 50km race for able-bodied skiers in January.

His brother Robin serves as his full-vision guide on the course during the Paralympic races.

The victory helped them both put behind what had happened during the Olympics.

Brian McKeever said: "It makes it a lot easier.

"We are never going to forget what happened but this helps us move on.

"We still have more racing to go and more things to look ahead to.

"Friends and family are here.

"A home crowd supported us through this whole journey.

"Right through the Olympics they were behind us and really supporting us.

"It's a way we can give back for all the support we had."


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February 2010: Canadian devastated at Olympic snub
February 2010: McKeever denied opportunity to make history
February 2010: McKeever inspired by grandparents ordeal
January 2010: Canadian skier to become first to compete in Winter Olympics and Paralympics