Ivanie Blondin's Final Olympic Quest: Canadian Speed Skater Embraces Joyful Approach for 2026 Milano Cortina Games
As she prepares for what will likely be her final Olympic appearance, Canadian long-track speed skater Ivanie Blondin is approaching the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games with a refreshing perspective focused on enjoyment rather than pressure. The veteran athlete, who has represented Canada in four Olympic cycles, believes that maintaining a fun and relaxed attitude is the key to success on the international stage.
Finding Joy at High Speeds
For Blondin, the thrill of skating at speeds approaching 50 kilometers per hour around an oval ice surface remains exhilarating. The 35-year-old Ottawa native, who now calls Calgary her long-track home, has discovered that removing self-imposed pressure has transformed her approach to competition in recent years.
"I think I've enjoyed the past three-and-a-bit years," Blondin reflected. "Since the last Games in 2022 Beijing, I think the pressure that I was putting on myself kind of just went away a little bit, which allowed me to just have more fun."
Cross-Training and Fresh Perspectives
Blondin's commitment to enjoyment extends beyond the ice. She has been participating in bike racing with an American cycling team, an activity that keeps her training regimen fresh and exciting. This cross-training approach has proven successful, with Blondin noting that "the results are still coming on the ice when it comes to the skating season."
The veteran skater emphasized her current mindset: "So I am pretty focused on having fun." This philosophy represents a significant shift from earlier in her career when Olympic pressure weighed more heavily on her performances.
Leading Canada's Speed Skating Contingent
Blondin intends to lead Canada's long-track speed skating team in Italy, where competition will take place at the Milano Speed Skating Stadium. Her experience and renewed approach could prove invaluable for the entire Canadian crew as they prepare for Olympic action.
The hope is that Blondin's breezy attitude will translate into success similar to or better than her achievements at the Beijing Games, potentially inspiring her teammates to adopt similar mental approaches to high-stakes competition.
Calgary's Olympic Speed Skating Contingent
Blondin is joined by several fellow Calgary-based athletes who will represent Canada in long-track speed skating at the 2026 Winter Olympics:
- Ted-Jan Bloemen: The 39-year-old veteran, originally from the Netherlands, will compete in his fourth Olympic Games. Bloemen brings impressive credentials to Italy, having won gold in the 10,000-meter distance and silver in the 5,000-meter race at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games. He will race both distances again in Milano Cortina.
- Brooklyn McDougall: The 27-year-old skater enters her second Olympic appearance. McDougall will compete in the 500-meter sprint, the same event she raced in Beijing 2022 where she placed 22nd.
- Anders Johnson: Making his Olympic debut, the 28-year-old Ontario native now living in Calgary will compete in both the 1,000-meter and 500-meter races, bringing fresh energy to Canada's speed skating team.
The Path to Olympic Success
As Blondin prepares for her likely final Olympic chapter, her journey represents more than just athletic competition. It demonstrates how elite athletes can evolve their approaches to maintain peak performance while preserving their passion for their sport. Her emphasis on enjoyment over pressure offers valuable insights for athletes at all levels facing high-stakes competition.
With the Milano Cortina Games approaching, Blondin's experience and renewed perspective position her as both a competitive threat and an inspirational figure within Canadian sports. Her story underscores that sometimes, the most direct path to victory involves rediscovering the fundamental joy that first drew an athlete to their sport.
