Alberta Cross-Country Skiers Stephen and McKeever Eye Olympic Podium in Milano Cortina
Canadian cross-country skiers Tom Stephen and Xavier McKeever are preparing to make significant strides at the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milano Cortina. These young Albertans have emerged as key figures in putting a podium finish "on the radar" for Canada's national cross-country ski team.
Building on Historic Relay Success
Stephen and McKeever possess the team spirit and competitive grit that defines successful Canadian athletes. Their confidence stems from proven performance in relay events, where they have demonstrated Canada's ability to compete with traditional Nordic powerhouses.
"Podium potential," declared Calgary's Tom Stephen in the lead-up to the Milano Cortina Olympics. "We're definitely like an underdog, but we've shown ourselves that we can compete with the biggest nations like Norway and Sweden and that we can beat them on a good day."
Stephen acknowledges that achieving a podium finish requires multiple factors to align perfectly, including athlete fitness, equipment performance, and race dynamics. However, he emphasizes that "it's definitely on our radar as a team."
Proven Track Record in International Competition
The athletes' confidence is well-founded in their competitive history:
- Stephen, McKeever, and teammates Olivier Léveillé and Rémi Drolet captured a historic silver medal in the men's 4×5-kilometre relay at the 2020 FIS Nordic World Junior Championships
- Canada achieved fifth-place finishes in both the 4×7.5-km and 4×10.5 relays at the 2023 and 2025 FIS Nordic World Championships respectively
- McKeever partnered with Antoine Cyr to secure ninth place in the men's team sprint classic at the 2025 world championships
McKeever, who hails from Canmore, Alberta, believes relay events represent Canada's strongest opportunity for Olympic success. "As a nation, we've had really good success in relay events," McKeever explained. "I think the highest probability of a podium is in a relay. That would be a really, really, really special day."
Olympic Cross-Country Schedule and Selection Process
The Milano Cortina Olympic cross-country skiing events will feature several key competitions:
- Sunday (6:30 a.m. ET) — 20-km men's skiathlon
- Tuesday, February 10 (3:55 a.m. ET) — men's classic sprint
- Friday, February 13 (5:45 a.m. ET) — 10-km men's race
- Sunday, February 15 (6 a.m. ET) — 4×7.5-km men's relay
- Wednesday, February 18 (4:15 a.m. ET) — men's team sprint
- Saturday, February 21 (5 a.m. ET) — 50-km mass-start classic
Canada's competitors for each race will be determined by the coaching staff the day before each event, allowing for strategic decisions based on athlete form and conditions.
McKeever's Family Legacy in Nordic Skiing
Xavier McKeever continues to build upon an extraordinary family legacy in cross-country skiing. His uncle Brian McKeever is a Paralympic legend with multiple gold medals, while his father Robin served as Brian's guide during several Paralympic victories. His mother, Milaine Thériault, competed as a three-time Olympian.
McKeever first experienced the Olympic podium at just six years old during the 2010 Vancouver Paralympics, celebrating his uncle's three cross-country ski gold medals. The "Brothers" tandem of Brian and Robin McKeever collected seven gold medals across three Paralympic Games (2002 Salt Lake City, 2006 Torino, and 2010 Vancouver), with Brian adding nine more medals with different guides in subsequent Paralympics.
"As a source of inspiration, my dad and uncle were instrumental," McKeever reflected. "Because watching them in 2010 at the Paralympic Games was kind of where that desire to pursue skiing as a career was kind of kick-started."
As Stephen and McKeever prepare for the Milano Cortina Games, they carry not only their own competitive achievements but also the weight of Canada's growing cross-country skiing ambitions and McKeever's remarkable family heritage in the sport.
