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Milan-Cortina 2026 will feature dozens of athletes with ties to Ottawa-Gatineau and the surrounding areas representing Canada and other countries.
The games are currently underway, with two days of competition ahead of Friday’s opening ceremony.
Introducing local athletes who are attracting attention at the Winter Olympics.
speed skating
The National Capital Region is well represented on the oval, with three athletes competing on Team Canada.
Weidemann and Blondin are both likely to win medals, according to Analysis commissioned by CBC Sports. The pair will compete in their first event, the 3000 meters, on Saturday.
Brunet, whose family includes several Olympians and professional athletes, will make her Olympic debut when she stands on the 500-meter track.
CBC’s Omar Dbaghi-Pacheco will cover the event at the Milan Speed Skating Stadium. He takes the task seriously, learning the sport at Gloucester Concorde, where both Weidemann and Blondin got their starts.
It’s the fastest human-powered winter sport, and Canadians are leading the way. CBC’s Omar Dbaghi-Pacheco laced up his skates and hit the ice to find out just how difficult speed skating really is.
alpine skiing
Ottawa’s sibling ski cross duo Jared and Hannah Schmidt will once again race for Team Canada on February 20th and 21st.
Grenier will be aiming for a podium finish at his third Winter Olympics after winning five medals on the World Cup circuit.
Valerie Grenier of St. Isidore, Ont., missed the podium by less than half a second at Semmering, settling for fourth.
biathlon
There are two names with Ottawa connections worth noting at the Antholz Anterselva Biathlon Arena.
Connelly and Rousseau may compete together in the 4x6km mixed relay on Sunday, February 8th.
bobsled
Three players on Canada’s bobsled team have ties to Ottawa, including two former Carleton University football players.
- Mike Evelyn O’Higgins (Ottawa, Ontario) – 2-man and 4-man bobsleds
- Jay Dearborn (Yaker, Ontario, formerly Carleton Raven) – 2-man and 4-man bobsleds
- Keaton Brugeling (St. Catharines, Ont., former Carleton Raven and Ottawa Redblack) – 4-man bobsled
Evelyn O’Higgins and Dearborn will be pushing Canada’s two-person sled on February 16th and 17th. Ottawa Redblacks 2022 draft pick Keaton Brugeling will also participate in the four-man tournament on February 21st and 22nd.
cross country skiing
Two veteran skiers from the Gatineau area will represent Canada at the Tessero Cross-Country Ski Stadium.
Stewart-Jones and Sir will start the competition with skiathlons on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
curling
Team Homan will aim for gold at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium.
CBC Sports’ Devin Erow spoke to Rachel Homan, who is aiming for an Olympic medal after missing out on the curling podium in 2018 and the mixed doubles podium in 2022.
Homan and Miskew will have plenty of fans from the Ottawa Curling Club watching from home.
figure skating
Two figure skaters from eastern Ontario will take to the ice with their partners for Canada.
Poirier and his partner Piper Gilles are considered medal contenders.
The opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina Olympic Games is fast approaching, and CBC Ottawa’s Omar Dbaghi-Pacheco will be part of the team covering the opening ceremony in Italy. He will help you prepare for the game as Team Canada players prepare for the game.
hockey
Players from Ottawa’s two professional hockey teams will compete against their teammates in the Olympic tournament. 2026 will be the first Winter Olympics since the PWHL’s inception, and the first Olympics to include NHL players since 2014.
Canada
Three Ottawa Charge forwards will represent Canada. Charge captain Brianne Jenner will be aiming for her fourth Olympic medal.
In the city or outside7:17Brian Jenner visits Manotick Public School ahead of 2026 Olympics
Manotick Public School students welcomed the Team Canada forward and Ottawa Charge captain to Olympic Spirit Day before her flight to Italy on Thursday.
us
Players from the Charge and Ottawa Senators will represent the United States at the tournament.
- Gwyneth Phillips (G, Ottawa Charge)
- Rory Gilday (D-Ottawa)
- Brady Tkachuk (F, Ottawa Senators)
- Jake Sanderson (D-Ottawa Senator)
Eight players from the Ottawa Charge will compete in the 2026 Olympics. CBC’s Simon Smith spoke about their thoughts ahead of the game.
Finland
Both Finnish teams will have professional Ottawa players on the defensive side of the ice.
- Nicholas Matimpalo (D-Ottawa Senator)
- Sanni Ahola (G, Ottawa Charge)
- Ronja Savolainen (Democrat, Ottawa Charge)
czech
The Charge will send a Czech forward and head coach to Milan.
- Kateřina Murazova (F, Ottawa Charge)
- Kara MacLeod (Ottawa Charge, coach)
Denmark
The two Danish Sens will highlight the men’s roster along with other NHLers.
- Mats Sogard (G, Ottawa Senators)
- Lars Eller (F, Ottawa Senators)
Germany
Tim Stützle is the only senator representing Germany.
Italy
Former Carlton Raven and Gatineau Olympian Jason Seed is playing for the host nation.
morning in ottawa6:39Lacing up red, white and green Olympic hockey skates
We talk to Ottawa-born professional hockey player Jason Seed about joining this year’s Olympic Team Italy and what it’s like to be a professional hockey player in this country.
The women’s tournament begins Thursday, with Canada taking on Finland and the Czech Republic taking on the United States. The men’s tournament begins on February 11th and will feature Slovakia vs. Finland and Sweden vs. Italy.
Official & support crew
- Gene “Rocky” Lamontagne (Ottawa Pacers)
Jean Lamontagne, a longtime volunteer with the Ottawa Pacers Speed Skating Club, will be the chief starter for all men’s short track speed skating events at the 2026 Milan Olympics.
The complete competition schedule is Milan Cortina 2026 Website.