The 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics are set to showcase the incredible talent of athletes from Ottawa-Gatineau and beyond, igniting a sense of pride for the region. But who are these local heroes representing Canada and other nations? Get ready to cheer for these remarkable individuals!
In the speed skating arena, the National Capital Region shines with three athletes on Team Canada. Isabelle Weidemann and Ivanie Blondin, both from Ottawa, are predicted to medal in their first event, the 3000-metre, on Saturday. Cédrick Brunet, from Gatineau, will make his Olympic debut in the 500-metre race, following in the footsteps of his family's athletic legacy. And this is where it gets intriguing: CBC's Omar Dabaghi-Pacheco, covering the events, has been training with the Gloucester Concordes, the very club that launched Weidemann and Blondin's careers. Talk about a full circle moment!
The Ottawa sibling duo Jared and Hannah Schmidt will grace the slopes in ski cross, while Valérie Grenier, from St. Isidore, aims for a podium finish in her third Winter Games. Grenier, a five-time World Cup medalist, is a force to be reckoned with.
In biathlon, keep an eye on Zachary Connelly and Shilo Rousseau, who might team up for the 4x6 kilometre mixed relay on February 8. And in bobsleigh, former Carleton University football players Mike Evelyn O'Higgins and Jay Dearborn will push Canada's two-man sled, with Ottawa RedBlacks' Keaton Bruggeling joining them for the four-man event.
Veteran skiers Antoine Cyr and Katherine Stewart-Jones will represent Canada in cross-country skiing. Curling enthusiasts will root for Team Homan, led by Rachel Homan and Emma Miskew, who are determined to bring home an Olympic medal. And in figure skating, Trennt Michaud and Paul Poirier, both from eastern Ontario, will grace the ice with their partners, with Poirier and Piper Gilles being medal favorites.
The hockey tournament will see players from Ottawa's professional teams compete against each other. Brianne Jenner, Emily Clark, and Jocelyne Larocque from the Ottawa Charge will represent Canada, while teammates Gwyneth Philips and Rory Guilday will play for the U.S. The Ottawa Senators will have Brady Tkachuk and Jake Sanderson on the U.S. team, and Nikolas Matinpalo and Sanni Ahola representing Finland. The Charge's Kateřina Mrázová will play for Czechia, with head coach Carla MacLeod by her side. Denmark's team will feature Mads Søgaard and Lars Eller from the Senators, and Germany has Tim Stützle. Former Carleton Raven and Gatineau Olympique player Jason Seed will represent the host country, Italy.
The Olympics also feature Jean "Rocky" Lamontagne, a longtime volunteer with the Ottawa Pacers Speed Skating Club, as the chief starter for men's short-track speed skating events. But here's a twist: Lamontagne is not an athlete himself, proving that there are countless ways to be part of the Olympic dream.
As the Games unfold, the Ottawa-Gatineau community will undoubtedly rally behind these athletes, celebrating their achievements and the spirit of sportsmanship. And for those who want to follow the action, the Milano Cortina 2026 website offers a comprehensive competition schedule. So, who are you most excited to see compete? Share your thoughts and let the Olympic fever begin!
