Canadian Speedskating Veteran Faces Uncertain Future for Olympic Gear
As the final chapter of his Olympic career unfolded at the Milano Speed Skating Stadium, Canadian speedskater Ted-Jan Bloemen found himself contemplating more than just race results. The 39-year-old athlete, who recently sold memorabilia from the 2022 Beijing Games to fund his journey to Milan-Cortina, now faces questions about what will become of his 2026 Olympic equipment.
A Difficult Final Olympic Appearance
The veteran speedskater experienced a challenging start to what he has confirmed will be his last Olympic appearance. Competing in the men's 5,000-meter race on February 8, 2026, Bloemen finished in 13th position—a disappointing outcome for an athlete who claimed silver in the same event at the 2018 PyeongChang Games and placed 10th in Beijing four years later.
"I really don't know what to say," Bloemen admitted after the race. "We've prepared the best we could." The Canadian skater started strongly, drawing audible reactions from the crowd as he approached the newly-set Olympic record established by Norwegian competitor Sander Eitrem. However, by the midpoint of the race, Bloemen had slipped to eighth position, eventually falling to ninth before finishing outside the top ten.
The Beijing Memorabilia Sale
Last month, Bloemen made headlines when he posted an advertisement on Facebook offering his Lululemon competition kit from the 2022 Beijing Olympics for sale. His stated objective was clear: "Support my journey to the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics by buying this Lululemon kit from the previous Winter Olympics."
During his post-race interview in Milan, Bloemen clarified his motivation for the sale. "I didn't have to do that. I wanted to do that," he explained. "I sold my gear from the Beijing Olympics, which, every time I had it in my hands, it wasn't the greatest memory. So, for me, it wasn't a big loss to sell it."
Uncertainty About 2026 Gear
When questioned about whether he would similarly sell his equipment from the current Milan-Cortina Games, Bloemen responded with a chuckle, "I don't know yet." This uncertainty reflects the complex emotions surrounding his final Olympic performance and the memorabilia associated with it.
The veteran skater acknowledged that he realized the race was "lost" during the second half, unable to maintain the pace he had established earlier. "I tried to put together a plan for this season so that I was going to be in the best shape of my life at this moment," Bloemen reflected. "And, for some reason, I hadn't figured out yet I wasn't. So, that's unfortunate."
Recent Performance History
Bloemen's journey to these final Games has been marked by fluctuations in performance. During the previous season, he failed to reach the podium at either the World Cup or World Championships. However, just last November, he demonstrated his enduring capability by finishing third at the World Cup event in Calgary—the city where he resides with his family.
"At that point, I was really good," he said of his November performance. "I think that was maybe the best race of my life. But that's a couple months ago, right?" The skater noted that he couldn't replicate that same speed and endurance during Sunday's Olympic competition.
Corporate Support and Future Considerations
Following Bloemen's decision to sell his Beijing Olympic gear, the news reached officials at Corona Cero, an Olympic sponsor, who responded by offering the athlete a $20,000 cheque to provide financial assistance. At the time, a spokesperson for Labatt Breweries of Canada commented: "To see an athlete who is selling their best memories, that are their golden moments in order to go with their family to the Olympics didn't sit right with us. We didn't want him to have to give that up."
As Bloemen concludes his Olympic career, the question of what will become of his 2026 competition gear remains unanswered. The decision will likely depend on how he processes the memories of his final Games and what value he assigns to equipment from an Olympic appearance that didn't meet his competitive expectations.
