Canada's Path to Podium Success at the 2026 Winter Olympics
As the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina approach, Canada stands at a pivotal moment in its winter sports history. Two decades ago, the nation transformed from an occasional contender into a consistent medal threat at the Winter Games. The strategic shift that began before Turin 2006 yielded impressive results, with Canada winning 24 medals that year—a significant improvement over previous totals of 17, 15, 13, seven, and five dating back to Calgary 1988.
Since Turin, Canada has maintained an average of 26 medals per Winter Olympics. However, current projections based on recent international competitions suggest the country might face challenges in Milano-Cortina, with estimates indicating Canada could be hard-pressed to bring home 22 medals.
Reliable Medal Prospects
While the men's and women's hockey teams are expected to reach the podium in Italy, and curling medals appear likely, several other winter sports athletes show strong potential for Olympic success. Here are some of Canada's most promising medal hopefuls across various disciplines.
Alpine Skiing: Valerie Grenier
The 29-year-old veteran slalom skier from St. Isidore, Ontario, enters her third Olympics with renewed confidence following an exceptional season. Grenier secured a World Cup bronze medal on her home course at Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, and achieved a fourth-place finish at Semmering, Austria, establishing herself as a genuine podium contender. Her previous Olympic performances include 21st in downhill and 23rd in giant slalom at PyeongChang 2018, and a DNF in giant slalom at Beijing 2022.
Snowboard Cross: Eliot Grondin
At just 24 years old, Grondin approaches his third Olympics as the two-time reigning world champion and favorite to claim gold in Milano-Cortina. The Sainte-Marie, Quebec native already boasts an impressive Olympic resume, having won silver in ski cross at Beijing 2022 and bronze in the mixed team event alongside Meryeta O'Dine. His Olympic journey began at age 16 during PyeongChang 2018, where he finished 36th.
Ski Cross Standouts
Reece Howden: The 27-year-old from Cultus Lake, British Columbia, continues to dominate the World Cup circuit with his third gold medal of the season, bringing his career total to 21 World Cup victories—more than any other athlete globally. Howden's exceptional form has earned him World Cup overall titles in 2021, 2023, and last season, along with substantial prize money approaching $100,000 annually.
Kevin Drury: The 37-year-old Toronto native recently ended a five-year gold-medal drought with a World Cup victory in Val Thorens, France. As he likely approaches his final Olympics, Drury brings valuable experience from previous Games where he finished fourth at PyeongChang 2018 and 12th at Beijing 2022. Before transitioning to ski cross in 2015, Drury was a medal-winning slalom skier at the University of Vermont.
Hannah Schmidt: With injuries sidelining teammates Courtney Hoffos and India Sherret, the 31-year-old Ottawa native becomes increasingly important to Canada's ski cross hopes. Schmidt brings nine World Cup medals to her Olympic campaign and finished seventh at her only previous Games in Beijing 2022.
Looking Ahead to Milano-Cortina
While Canada faces potential challenges in maintaining its recent medal averages, these athletes represent the nation's best chances for podium success beyond traditional strongholds like hockey and curling. Their combined experience, recent performances, and competitive drive position them as genuine contenders who could help Canada exceed expectations at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
