Team Canada at Milano Cortina 2026: Calgary Athletes Deliver Nearly Half the Hardware

CALGARY, AB — The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics wrapped yesterday with Team Canada securing 21 medals and Calgary's fingerprints all over the podium. Nearly half of the nation's hardware came from athletes who trained in this city, proving once again that the legacy of 1988 isn't just history—it's infrastructure.

Canada finished 11th in the gold medal standings with 5 gold, 7 silver, and 9 bronze. Not the top-five finish we're used to, but the moments that mattered? Those belonged to Calgary.

The Calgary Oval Continues Its Reign

The Women's Pursuit speed skating team—Ivanie Blondin, Valérie Maltais, and Isabelle Weidemann—defended their gold medal on ice forged at the Calgary Olympic Oval. Maltais also claimed bronze in the 3000m, becoming Canada's first medalist of the Games and one of the rare athletes to medal in both short track and long track disciplines.

Steven Dubois added gold in the Men's 500m short track. Courtney Sarault became the first Canadian woman to win four medals at a single Winter Games, taking home two silver and two bronze in short-track events.

The Oval's pipeline isn't slowing down. It's accelerating.

Cale Makar's Lone Goal in a Painful Final

Calgary's own Cale Makar scored Canada's only goal in the Men's Hockey final, a 2-1 overtime loss to the United States that ended a tournament of dominance with a gut-punch finish. Jack Hughes played hero for the Americans, snapping their 46-year gold drought.

The Women's Hockey team mirrored the script, falling 2-1 in OT to the U.S. Captain Marie-Philip Poulin and her squad settled for silver in a physical, emotional battle that felt like déjà vu.

The Veterans and the New Guard

Mikaël Kingsbury closed his Olympic career as the most decorated freestyle skier in history, winning gold in the debut of Dual Moguls and silver in the individual event. Megan Oldham emerged as a breakout star, claiming gold in Women's Big Air and bronze in Slopestyle.

Team Brad Jacobs brought curling gold back to Canada with a 9-6 victory over Great Britain. Rachel Homan, after years of Olympic heartbreak, finally stood on the podium with a bronze after defeating the USA. Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier earned bronze in Ice Dance with a Van Gogh-inspired free dance that stole the show.

What This Means for Calgary

The city's role in Canada's Olympic success isn't abstract—it's measurable. From the Oval to the ice, Calgary-trained athletes delivered when it counted. As the Canadian Olympic Committee rolls out its 'Team Canada 2035' strategic plan and pushes for increased funding, the return on investment in Calgary's facilities is already on full display.

The question now isn't whether Calgary athletes can perform. It's whether the infrastructure that built them can keep up.