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There are dozens of athletes with ties to Ottawa-Gatineau and the surrounding area representing Canada and other nations at Milano Cortina 2026.
The Games are now underway with two days of competition taking place ahead of Friday’s Opening Ceremony.
Here are the local athletes to watch at the Winter Games.
Speed skating
The National Capital Region will be well-represented on the oval, with three athletes racing for Team Canada:
Both Weidemann and Blondin have good odds to medal according to an analysis commissioned by CBC Sports. The pair race in their first event — the 3000-metre — on Saturday.
Brunet, who has several Olympic and professional athletes in his family, will be making his Olympic debut when he hits the track for the 500-metre.
CBC’s Omar Dabaghi-Pacheco will be covering the events at the Milano Speed Skating Stadium. He’s been taking the assignment seriously, learning the sport with the Gloucester Concordes, where both Weidemann and Blondin got their start.
WATCH | Omar Dabaghi-Pacheco’s primer on speed skating:
How tough is the fastest human-powered Olympic sport?
It’s the fastest human-powered winter sport and Canadians are leading the charge. The CBC’s Omar Dabaghi-Pacheco laced up his skates and took the ice to find out how hard 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 20 and 21:
Grenier will be looking for a podium finish at her third Winter Games, after medaling five times on the World Cup circuit.
WATCH | Grenier settles for fourth at World Cup :
Canada’s Valerie Grenier just misses the World Cup giant slalom podium in Austria
Valerie Grenier of St. Isidore, Ont., settled for fourth, missing the podium by less than half a second in Semmering.
Biathlon
There are two names with Ottawa connections to watch at the Antholz-Anterselva Biathlon Arena:
Connelly and Rousseau will compete together in the 4×6 kilometre mixed relay on Sunday, February 8.
Bobsleigh
Three of the athletes on Canada’s bobsleigh team have Ottawa ties, including two former Carleton University football players:
- Mike Evelyn O’Higgins (Ottawa, Ont., former Carleton Raven) – Two-man and four-man bobsleigh
- Jay Dearborn (Yarker, Ont.) – Two-man and four-man bobsleigh
- Keaton Bruggeling (St. Catharines, Ont., former Carleton Raven and Ottawa RedBlack) – Four-man bobsleigh
Evelyn O’Higgins and Dearborn will push Canada’s two-man sled on February 16 and 17. Ottawa RedBlacks 2022 first-round pick Keaton Bruggeling will join them for the four-man event on February 21 and 22.
Cross-country skiing
Two veteran skiers from the Gatineau area will represent Canada at the Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium.
Stewart-Jones and Cyr kick off the Games with the skiathlon on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
Curling
Team Homan will be in the hunt for gold at Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium:
WATCH | CBC Sports’ Devin Heroux sits down with Rachel Homan:
Rachel Homan hoping 3rd time’s the charm at Milano Cortina 2026
CBC Sports’ Devin Heroux sat down with Rachel Homan, who will be aiming for an Olympic medal after missing the curling podium in 2018 and mixed doubles podium in 2022.
Homan and Miskew will have plenty of fans watching at home from the Ottawa Curling Club.
Figure skating
Two figure skaters from eastern Ontario will take the ice with their partners for Canada.
Poirier and his partner Piper Gilles are considered medal hopefuls.
WATCH | What to know about figure skating at the Games:
Figure skating at Milano Cortina 2026: Everything you need to know
The Milano Cortina Olympics opening ceremony is almost here and CBC Ottawa’s Omar Dabaghi-Pacheco is going to be part of the team covering it in Italy. As Team Canada athletes prepare for competition, he helps you get ready for the games.
Hockey
Players from Ottawa’s two professional hockey teams will face their teammates in the Olympic tournament. 2026 marks the first Winter Olympics since the formation of the PWHL and the first Games featuring NHL players since 2014.
Canada
Three Ottawa Charge forwards will suit up for Canada. Charge Captain Brianne Jenner will be looking for her fourth Olympic medal.
U.S.
Players from the Charge and the Ottawa Senators will represent the U.S. at the Games.
- Gwyneth Philips (G, Ottawa Charge)
- Rory Guilday (D, Ottawa Charge)
- Brady Tkachuk (F, Ottawa Senators)
- Jake Sanderson (D, Ottawa Senators)
WATCH | The Ottawa Charge players representing their countries:
These Ottawa Charge players are ready to be Olympians
Eight players from the Ottawa Charge are going to the 2026 Olympic Games. CBC’s Simon Smith spoke with them about how they’re feeling ahead of the games.
Finland
Both of Finland’s teams will have pro Ottawa players on the defensive side of the ice.
- Nikolas Matinpalo (D, Ottawa Senators)
- Sanni Ahola (G, Ottawa Charge)
- Ronja Savolainen (D, Ottawa Charge)
Czechia
The Charge are sending a forward and their head coach to Milan.
- Kateřina Mrázová (F, Ottawa Charge)
- Carla MacLeod (Coach, Ottawa Charge)
Ottawa Charge head coach Carla MacLeod will coach Czechia at Milano Cortina 2026. (Jonathan Jobin/Radio-Canada)
Denmark
Two Danish Sens will highlight a men’s roster with few other NHLers.
- Mads Søgaard (G, Ottawa Senators)
- Lars Eller (F, Ottawa Senators)
Germany
Tim Stützle is the sole Senator on Germany’s squad.
Italy
Former Carleton Raven and Gatineau Olympique Jason Seed is playing for the host country.
LISTEN | Ottawa Morning’s Rebecca Zandbergen speaks with Jason Seed:
Ottawa Morning6:39Lacing up the Olympic hockey skates for the red, white and green
We talk to Ottawa-born professional hockey player Jason Seed about his spot on this year’s Team Italy’s Olympic roster, and what it’s like to be a professional hockey player in the country
The women’s tournament starts Thursday when Canada plays Finland and Czechia faces off against the U.S. The men’s tournament begins Feb. 11, with Slovakia vs. Finland and Sweden vs. Italy.
Officials & support crew
- Jean “Rocky” Lamontagne (Ottawa Pacers)
WATCH | Meet the chief starter for men’s short track speed skating :
Why this Ottawa dad is participating in the Olympics – and it’s not as an athlete
Jean Lamontagne, a longtime volunteer with the Ottawa Pacers Speed Skating Club, will be chief starter for all the men’s short-track speed skating events at the 2026 Olympic Games in Milan.
A full competition schedule is available on the Milano Cortina 2026 website.
