Top Canadian Medal Contenders to Watch at Winter Olympics
As the Winter Olympics return to Italy in 2026, Canada is gearing up for another competitive outing. The “Own the Podium” program has propelled the country to success, securing at least 24 medals in the last five Winter Games. Canada’s goal is to maintain its position as a leading contender, especially following its performance in 2022, where it earned only four gold medals.
Canada’s Medal Aspirations
Canada’s Olympic journey aims to continue its strong legacy at Milan Cortina. The Canadian Olympic Committee aspires to be among the top five nations in total medal counts by 2035. Despite past achievements, concerns about stable government funding have surfaced, potentially impacting future performances.
Projected Medal Counts
Current projections suggest that Canada could secure 27 medals in this upcoming Winter Olympics, including:
- 10 Gold
- 9 Silver
- 8 Bronze
This estimate comes from Shoreview Sports Analytics and follows Canada’s total of 26 medals in 2022.
Key Contenders to Watch
Here are some of the top competitors representing Canada:
Ski Cross Athletes
- Marielle Thompson – The Whistler, B.C. native aims for her third Olympic medal after recovering from a knee injury.
- Reece Howden – From Cultus Lake, B.C., he has dominated the World Cup circuit, claiming his 22nd career gold medal recently.
Snowboarding Stars
- Eliot Grondin – The Sainte-Marie, Que. athlete won gold at last year’s world championships.
- Mark McMorris – This Regina native is a three-time Olympic bronze medalist in slopestyle.
- Cameron Spalding – The Havelock, Ont. snowboarder enters his first Olympics after a successful World Cup season.
Speedskating Competitors
- Valerie Maltais – The La Baie, Que. skater has shown strong form leading up to the Olympics.
- Ivanie Blondin – From Ottawa, she aims to continue her strong performance in mass start events.
Moguls and Short Track Success
- Mikael Kingsbury – Celebrated for his 100th World Cup win, he seeks to add to his Olympic medal tally.
- William Dandjinou – Lauded as the world’s top short-track skater heading into the Games.
- Steven Dubois – A medalist at the 2022 Olympics, he forms a formidable duo with Dandjinou.
Ice Dance and Other Highlights
Canadian ice dance duo Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier have their sights set on the podium, following impressive performances in recent championships. Additionally, young athletes like Hallie Clarke in skeleton and Cynthia Appiah in bobsleigh bring fresh potential to the Canadian squad.
The Winter Olympics officially kick off with the opening ceremony soon. The competition is set to begin on Wednesday, marking a critical phase of the Games for these talented Canadian athletes.
