The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina is a thrilling event, and the Ottawa-Gatineau region is well-represented! But who are these local athletes flying the flag for Canada and other nations? Get ready to cheer on these talented individuals as they take on the world stage.
Speed Skating:
The National Capital Region is making its mark on the ice with three athletes racing for Team Canada. Isabelle Weidemann and Ivanie Blondin, both from Ottawa, are long-track speed skaters with promising medal prospects. They'll be joined by Cédrick Brunet from Gatineau, who will make his Olympic debut in the 500-metre event. And CBC's Omar Dabaghi-Pacheco is there to capture all the action, having trained with the Gloucester Concordes, the club where Weidemann and Blondin started their journey.
Alpine Skiing:
Ottawa's ski-cross siblings, Jared and Hannah Schmidt, are set to race for Team Canada. They'll be joined by Valérie Grenier, who is aiming for a podium finish after her impressive World Cup performances. Grenier, from St. Isidore, will be one to watch as she seeks Olympic glory.
Biathlon:
Keep an eye out for Zachary Connelly and Shilo Rousseau, two biathletes with Ottawa connections. They might compete together in the mixed relay, adding an extra layer of excitement for local fans.
Bobsleigh:
Canada's bobsleigh team includes three athletes with Ottawa ties, including former Carleton University football players Mike Evelyn O'Higgins and Jay Dearborn. Keaton Bruggeling, a former Ottawa RedBlack and Carleton Raven, will also represent Canada. These athletes will push the two-man and four-man sleds to victory.
Cross-Country Skiing:
Two veteran skiers from the Gatineau area, Antoine Cyr and Katherine Stewart-Jones, will represent Canada. They'll kick off their Olympic journey with the skiathlon, aiming to leave their mark on the Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium.
Curling:
Team Homan, led by Rachel Homan and Emma Miskew, is on a mission for gold. Homan, a seasoned curler, will be aiming for her first Olympic medal after previous near-misses. The Ottawa Curling Club will be buzzing with excitement as their local heroes compete.
Figure Skating:
Eastern Ontario's Trennt Michaud and Paul Poirier will grace the ice for Canada. Poirier, along with his partner Piper Gilles, is a medal hopeful in ice dance. Their journey to the Olympics is a captivating story.
Hockey:
The Ottawa Charge and Ottawa Senators are sending players to represent Canada, the U.S., Finland, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, and Italy. Brianne Jenner, captain of the Ottawa Charge, is aiming for her fourth Olympic medal. The women's tournament kicks off with Canada vs. Finland and Czechia vs. U.S., while the men's tournament starts with Slovakia vs. Finland and Sweden vs. Italy. And let's not forget Jean "Rocky" Lamontagne, an Ottawa dad and longtime volunteer, who will be the chief starter for men's short-track speed skating events.
The Milano Cortina Olympics is a celebration of athletic excellence, and these Ottawa-Gatineau athletes are ready to shine. But here's where it gets controversial: will the hometown heroes bring home the gold? Only time will tell. Stay tuned as these athletes compete for glory and represent their communities on the world's biggest stage.
