Cochrane's Skylar Sieben Masters Studies and Olympic Bobsleigh Ambitions
Skylar Sieben embodies a rare combination of intellectual prowess and athletic power, seamlessly transitioning from the research laboratory to the bobsleigh track as she prepares to represent Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Cortina, Italy.
From Academic Excellence to Olympic Dreams
The 25-year-old Cochrane native recently completed her master's degree in cellular and molecular medicine at the University of Arizona, where she previously excelled as a heptathlete. "When I finished track, I was like, 'Hey, I'm gonna dive into my research,'" Sieben recalled. "My masters involved extensive lab work, thesis writing, and research that consumed all my time. After graduation, I experienced significant confusion about my next steps—it was probably the most bewildering period of my life."
Sieben admits this transitional phase brought emotional challenges. "I think I cried every day," she confessed. However, her current reality contrasts sharply with those difficult moments, as she now smiles with excitement about her Olympic opportunity.
Rapid Rise in Bobsleigh
Sieben's inclusion on the Canadian Olympic bobsleigh team has occurred with remarkable speed. "It's actually so crazy because I never thought two years ago when I started this—or even last year—I'd be in a position to be at the Olympics," she expressed. "It still kind of blows my mind even today. I try to maintain a positive mindset and avoid getting overwhelmed by the Olympic atmosphere, recognizing that few people have the chance to pursue such an extraordinary dream that materialized so quickly."
As one of three brakewomen selected to help Canada compete for podium positions, Sieben brings exceptional athleticism to the team. Her background as a top-24 NCAA heptathlete provides the explosive power necessary to push-start Canadian sleds at the Cortina Sliding Centre.
Family Athletic Legacy and Event Schedule
Athletic excellence runs in Sieben's family, with both parents having been star athletes at the University of Alberta—her mother Esther competed in heptathlon, while her father Michael excelled in volleyball. "Track and field provided me with incredible experiences," Sieben reflected. "After completing my master's, I questioned whether to train full-time for athletics. The heptathlon demands significant sacrifice across seven events. While I didn't love it enough to continue pursuing it exclusively, it undoubtedly prepared me for bobsleigh."
The two-woman bobsleigh competition features three Canadian sleds piloted by Toronto's Cynthia Appiah, Melissa Lotholz of Barrhead, Alberta, and Calgary firefighter Bianca Ribi. The event begins Friday with Heats 1 and 2 at noon ET and 1:50 p.m. ET respectively, concluding Saturday with Heats 3 and 4 at 1 p.m. ET and 3:05 p.m. ET.
Sieben acknowledges the unusual combination of her academic and athletic pursuits. "The unicorn from Cochrane admits it's a strange mix of situations," she noted, recognizing how these contrasting elements have created meaningful emotional moments throughout her journey.
