Calgary Speed Skater Brooklyn McDougall Blends Art and Athletics at 2026 Olympics
Calgary's own Brooklyn McDougall is poised to create a masterpiece on the ice at the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympic Games. The long-track speed skating star, who is equally adept with a paintbrush as she is with clap-skates, sees her dual passions as complementary forces in her life.
From Canvas to Ice: A Dual Olympic Journey
McDougall, a 27-year-old Signal Hill native, is preparing for her second appearance at the Winter Olympics, scheduled to compete this weekend at the Milano Speed Skating Stadium. "I'm really excited," McDougall expressed. "Having already experienced the Olympic season process four years ago in Beijing during COVID, I now approach this with greater maturity and confidence, which helps me stay grounded in the moment."
Interestingly, the Milano Cortina Games represent McDougall's third Olympic involvement overall. The Ernest Manning High School graduate was previously invited to the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris not as an athlete, but as an exhibiting artist. Her display featured portraits of the first three female Olympic champions from the 1900 Paris Summer Games: American golfer Margaret Abbott, British tennis player Charlotte Cooper, and Swiss sailor Hélène de Pourtalès.
Artistic Roots and Mental Health Balance
"Art has kind of always been a part of my life," McDougall revealed. "My grandparents were both artists, so I grew up surrounded by amazing creative influences. When I began struggling with my mental health, I turned to my art practice as a therapeutic outlet, and it has led me to incredible places."
Her artistic journey took her to Paris, where her portraits of those pioneering Olympic champions were displayed two summers ago. "That was one of the most amazing highlights of my life," McDougall recalled. "My pieces in Paris remain among my absolute favorites."
The Juxtaposition of Speed and Creativity
McDougall finds a unique balance between her athletic and artistic pursuits. "Painting is a very personal process for me," she explained. "Speed skating and training represent a more masculine aspect of my life—it's about hard work, intense training, and following specific processes that don't leave much room for personal expression. My art provides that feminine balance. Much of my work features female portraits, flowers, and butterflies—subjects that are very light and delicate. I love this contrast because it creates a really interesting juxtaposition with skating."
Despite her artistic accomplishments, McDougall's primary focus at the Winter Games remains firmly on speed skating. She will compete in the women's 500-meter dash on Sunday alongside three other Canadian teammates: Carolina Hiller-Donnelly from Prince George, British Columbia; Rose Laliberte-Roy from Levis, Quebec; and Beatrice Lamarche from Quebec City, Quebec.
As McDougall prepares to take the ice in Milano, she carries with her not only the hopes of Canadian speed skating fans but also the creative spirit that has become an integral part of her identity as both an athlete and an artist.
