Canada’s debut medal at the Milano-Cortina Winter Games arrived swiftly with Valérie Maltais securing a bronze in the women’s 3,000 meters in long track speed skating on Day 1. This marked a significant achievement for the 35-year-old athlete, who competed in her fifth Olympics and clinched her first individual Olympic medal after transitioning from short track speed skating.
While Maltais claimed Canada’s sole medal on the first day, there were notable performances across various disciplines. In figure skating, newcomer Stephen Gogolev impressed by finishing third in the men’s short segment of the team event, advancing Canada to the final round. On the slopes, Jack Crawford placed ninth in the men’s downhill, and Cam Alexander secured the 14th spot, while Franjo von Allmen of Switzerland clinched the first gold of the Games. In other events, Canadian athletes showcased their skills, with Abi Strate finishing 11th in women’s ski jumping, Frank Jobin placing seventh in the men’s big air final despite a dislocated shoulder, and freestyle skiers Megan Oldham and Naomi Urness advancing to the women’s slopestyle final.
In the mixed doubles curling, Canada faced setbacks, losing to Great Britain and Estonia, which led to a 3-3 record after starting the tournament with three consecutive wins. However, the day ended on a high note as the defending Olympic champion Canadian women’s hockey team secured a 4-0 victory over Switzerland in their opening game, dominating with a 55-6 shot advantage.
Looking ahead to Sunday’s competitions, Canadian athletes have promising medal chances in various events. Notable events include snowboarding, with four Canadians competing in the parallel giant slalom, speed skating featuring Ted-Jan Bloemen in the men’s 5,000 meters, and figure skating where Canada is in contention in the team event final round. Other events to watch include alpine skiing, with Lindsey Vonn competing in the women’s downhill, mixed doubles curling matchups for Canada, and Laurie Blouin representing Canada in women’s big air qualifying.
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