CORTINA D’AMPEZZO — Competition is underway at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, two days ahead of the opening ceremony.
Canada’s Brett Gallant and Jocelyn Peterman, a husband-and-wife team from Chestermere, Alta., open the mixed doubles curling tournament against Czechia in Cortina as Canada looks to return to the podium after missing out on a medal at the 2022 Beijing Games.
Men’s alpine skiing also got underway Wednesday with downhill training on the Stelvio course in Bormio, where American Ryan Cochran-Siegle set the pace in the opening session.
Jeffrey Read of Canmore, Alta., was the top Canadian, finishing 10th, while Cameron Alexander and Brodie Seger, both of North Vancouver, B.C., placed 20th and 21st. Toronto’s James (Jack) Crawford was 28th, and North Vancouver’s Riley Seger finished 34th.
Times and placings are considered secondary in downhill training, with multiple sessions scheduled ahead of Saturday’s race.
The opening women’s downhill training session scheduled for Thursday in Cortina was cancelled on Wednesday due to ongoing snowfall. Two more training sessions are scheduled for Friday and Saturday ahead of Sunday’s race.
Several sports traditionally begin competition before the opening ceremony because of scheduling demands. The opening ceremony will be held Friday in Milan.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 4, 2026.
The Canadian Press
