The defining feature of the World Cup stop was the weather. Heavy snowfall and gusting winds created slow course conditions and required constant wind adjustments on the shooting range. Combined with occasional rifle issues, athletes were pushed to manage not only physical demands, but significant technical and mental challenges as well.

12.5‑kilometre individual

In the men’s standing 12.5‑kilometre individual, Mark Arendz continued his winning streak, capturing his fourth World Cup victory of the season after shooting 18 for 20 and finishing in 36:16.4.

“We woke up with lots of fresh snow and the wind really picked up on the range,” said Arendz. “When I missed early, it put pressure on the rest of the shots. I focused on what I could control and skied as hard as I could to the line. It wasn’t the easiest one, mentally or physically.”

Top 3 — Men’s Standing Individual

1. Mark Arendz (CAN) — 36:16.4
2. Benjamin Daviet (FRA) — 36:45.6
3. Wu Junbao (CHN) — 36:49.9

In the women’s standing individual, Natalie Wilkie extended her winning streak, shooting 20 for 20 to claim gold in 39:50.1. Brittany Hudak joined her on the podium in third, finishing in 40:52.3 after one shooting penalty.

Top 3 — Women’s Standing Individual

1. Natalie Wilkie (CAN) — 39:50.1
2. Zhao Zhiqing (CHN) — 39:56.2
3. Brittany Hudak (CAN) — 40:52.3

Derek Zaplotinsky, the current men’s sitting World Cup overall leader, placed sixth in the individual in 44:04.8 with two misses. Christina Picton also finished sixth in the women’s sitting individual in 52:27.3, while Maddie Mullin and guide Brooke Ailey crossed the line seventh in 30:49.0 in the women’s vision‑impaired race.

Sprint pursuit

In sprint pursuit qualification, both Wilkie and Arendz shot eight for 10, earning starting positions of fourth and seventh, respectively, for the final. Hudak shot clean in qualification to start the final in third.

Wilkie began the final in pursuit of China’s Zhao Zhiqing and Guo Yujie, along with teammate Hudak. The two Canadians worked together through the opening lap and entered the range at the same time for the first shoot. Wilkie delivered a perfect 10 for 10 in the final, racing to second in 17:20.9 to earn her fifth consecutive podium. Hudak finished fifth in 18:19.5 after three misses in her second shooting stage.

“It was a really good week for our entire team,” said Wilkie. “There was a lot of teamwork, testing skis, building each other up and sharing information, and that really showed. I think when I’m racing happy and enjoying what I’m doing, I stay more relaxed, and that’s when I’m able to put together my best performances. This week had some really challenging moments with the weather, but as a team we did a good job keeping the energy positive.”

Top 3 — Women’s Standing Sprint Pursuit

1. Guo Yujie (CHN) — 17:20.9
2. Natalie Wilkie (CAN) — 17:52.7
3. Zhao Zhiqing (CHN) — 18:11.5

In the men’s standing sprint pursuit final, Arendz leaned on ski speed to move through the field, but one miss in his first bout made the gap to first too great to close. He finished third in 15:11.3, marking his 100th career World Cup start and 60th career podium.

Top 3 — Men’s Standing Sprint Pursuit

1. Marco Maier (GER) — 15:11.3
2. Cai Jiayun (CHN) — 15:14.7
3. Mark Arendz (CAN) — 15:35.6

With two shooting penalties in the final, Zaplotinsky placed fifth in 22:53.4.

7.5‑kilometre sprint

After waking up with sore throats, both Arendz and Picton opted not to start the final day’s sprint in Notschrei, choosing to prioritize recovery ahead of upcoming cross‑country races and the Paralympics.

“It was a difficult decision,” said Arendz. “Racing while you’re coming down with something can lead to longer recovery and missing races. The goal this season is to be at my best for the Paralympics.”

Heading into the women’s standing 7.5‑kilometre sprint, Wilkie and Hudak knew the competition from China would be fierce.

With calm conditions on the final day, clean shooting became a requirement to contend for victory. Wilkie delivered once again, posting a clean race to finish second in 23:25.1, just 7.7 seconds behind Zhao Zhiqing (CHN). Hudak recorded one miss but produced one of her strongest ski performances of the week, finishing third in 24:42.1 to earn her second podium at the World Cup stop.

“I was really happy with how I executed my race today,” said Hudak. “I had one miss on the range, but I felt strong on the skis and was able to push hard the entire way. My legs felt much better than they did earlier in the week, and that allowed me to really race with confidence.”

This World Cup stop marked Canada’s first opportunity this season to race against China, which fielded a full and competitive team across all categories.

“Racing such strong competition pushes everyone to a higher level,” she said. “China has a really competitive team, and having them on the start line forces you to be sharp in every part of the race. That’s exactly what you want heading toward the Games, full fields, hard racing and a clear picture of where you need to keep improving.”

Top 3 — Women’s Standing Sprint

1. Zhao Zhiqing (CHN) — 23:17.7
2. Natalie Wilkie (CAN) — 23:25.1
3. Brittany Hudak (CAN) — 24:42.1

In the men’s sitting sprint, Zaplotinsky shot clean and finished sixth in 22:53.4, retaining his overall World Cup lead. Mullin and Ailey placed eighth in 27:46.7 in the women’s vision‑impaired sprint.

“The athletes handled some of the toughest conditions we’ve seen in years and made smart decisions throughout the week,” said Canada’s Para biathlon coach Menno Arendz. “What’s been most encouraging is the consistency they’re showing, finding ways to improve, learning from each race and making adjustments as the week went on. That approach is exactly what we want to see at this stage of the season as we fine‑tune the small details and make our final adjustments heading toward the Games.”

Wilkie leaves Notschrei ranked first overall in women’s standing, with Hudak second overall. Arendz sits second overall in men’s standing. With three races remaining in the Para biathlon World Cup season, the Crystal Globe overall titles will be decided in Jakuszyce, Poland, ahead of the Paralympic Games.

Full Results: https://www.biathlonworld.com/results?EventType=PBSWRLCP

“I was just looking for a sport to be a part of,” she says. “A sport that I didn’t have to rely on someone else for all the time, and a place where I could still be myself.” 

She was ten years old when she first tried cross-country skiing at a Cross-Country Ski Ontario event in Toronto.  

“I always thought of cross-country as a very recreational sport” she says. “Like something your grandparents would do. I didn’t really think there was a high-performance side to it.” 

At first, it wasn’t immediate love. “I really liked that fact I could go skiing by myself unlike other sports like alpine skiing where I really needed someone to guide me, so I didn’t get hurt. It took me a while to truly find my love for it.”  

Spending more time on skis and seeing gradual improvements eventually led Maddie to her motivation for skiing. 

“I liked that it was based on your time,” Madison says. “You can always improve. There’s always a way to get better.” 

It took years before she saw what that improvement could become. Her first Para Cross-Country World Cup start came in Finland at just 17. Last season marked her debut World Cup season and changed how she saw her future in the sport. 

“I remember being there and thinking, I can’t believe I am actually here,” she says. “That was when it really clicked that I could take this a lot further, and have this sport become a career instead of just an activity that I love doing.”  

Brooke Ailey’s relationship with skiing began much earlier, shaped by family, community, and routine. Growing up in Thunder Bay, she spent her winters at Lappe Nordic, coached by her parents and surrounded by people who loved the sport. 

“It’s always just been part of my life,” Brooke says. “My whole family skis. That community really built my love for it.” 

As she got older, balance became more important. Brooke chose the university route at Nipissing, determined to pursue both skiing and academics. 

“School was really important to me,” she says. “I wanted something outside of skiing and I needed that balance for my mental health.” 

The opportunity to guide Madison came through Nordiq Canada’s Para Nordic Development coach Leslie Bode, at a moment when Brooke was focused on her own racing goals and working toward FISU World University Games selection. 

“I really wanted to guide,” Brooke says. “But I didn’t know if I was going to make FISU and that felt like a big gamble.” 

After qualifying and competing for Canada at the FISU Games in 2025, Brooke made the leap into the world of Para nordic guiding.  

Though they had both grown up skiing and racing in Ontario, neither athlete had really known the other. They had crossed paths for years without ever meeting, but once they began working together, the fit was immediate. 

For Madison, skiing fast is not the most important thing she looks for when selecting a guide.  

“I don’t only focus on the skiing aspect,” she says. “I focus on personality. Being able to get along with someone for a long period of time and being able to communicate.” 

That communication, she says, has to be constant. 

“You spend so much time together training, racing, living together,” Madison says. “If you don’t communicate, things can get really stressful, especially on race days.” 

Brooke agrees. 

“We just say what’s on our mind,” she says. “If something didn’t go well, we talk about it. If something went awesome, we talk about that too.” 

Neither sees the relationship as hierarchical. 

“This is not a you work for me situation,” Madison says. “It’s a partnership.” 

That partnership means supporting each other beyond competition. 

“I don’t want someone to feel like they only matter when I need help,” Madison says. “Brooke has her own goals, and that matters.” 

Guiding has also deepened Brooke’s appreciation for the mental side of sport. Currently completing her undergraduate degree in physical health and education, she plans to pursue a master’s in kinesiology with a focus on sport psychology and para sport transitions. 

“There are so many unique dynamics in para sport,” Brooke says. “Changes in classification, injuries, disability changes. There are a lot of transitions, and we do not talk about them enough.” 

Those transitions resonate deeply with Brooke because of her own experiences in sport. As a young athlete, skiing was not always a positive space. 

“For a long time, sport was really hard for me mentally,” she says. “I was incredibly focused on performance and how I looked, and it turned into something that was really unhealthy.” 

Working through those struggles reshaped her relationship with skiing and with herself. 

“Coming out of that, I learned how important mental health is in sport,” Brooke says. “Now skiing is actually one of the biggest things that helps me manage my anxiety and feel grounded.” 

That perspective carries directly into the way she approaches guiding. 

“I think it helps me be a better guide,” she says. “I understand that what happens on snow is never just about skiing. There’s always more going on, and being able to see that and talk about it matters.” 

For Madison, that awareness has been meaningful. 

“Knowing that Brooke has been through her own things makes a huge difference,” Madison says. “I never feel judged, and I never feel like something I am feeling is silly or wrong.” 

This season, the partnership opened in front of a home crowd at the Para Cross Country World Cup in Canmore, Alberta. 

“Racing at home was pretty special,” Madison says. “Having people there who support you, who believe in you, it means a lot.” 

The results followed. Madison and Brooke finished second in three consecutive World Cup races to start the season.

“It definitely gave us confidence,” Brooke says. “It made us feel like we are doing something right.” 

For Madison, skiing has become something she chooses, rather than something she feels pushed to do. 

“It is my happy place now,” she says. “I really look forward to it, and I really love wearing the maple leaf.” 

Pulling on the Canada racing suit has only deepened that sense of belonging. 

“When you put on the maple leaf, it really means something,” she says. “You realize how lucky you are to be part of this group and to represent so many people.” 

For Madison, racing internationally is about more than results. It is about visibility for the athletes who are still standing on the sidelines, unsure if sport has space for them. 

“I think about the girl who wants to try something but is nervous,” Madison says. “The one who does not know if she belongs or if there is a place for her. That was me.” 

She hopes seeing Para athletes racing on the world stage can shift what feels possible. 

“If someone sees this and thinks maybe I could try, or maybe I can find a place where I feel accepted and supported, then that matters,” she says. “That is who I race for.” 

Brooke understands that responsibility from a different angle. 

“It is such an honour,” she says. “Not just to represent Canada, but to help make sure Madison is seen and supported out there.” 

For Brooke, being part of the partnership means standing beside someone whose presence can change how others see themselves. 

“Being able to do this together and to help Madison represent Canada means a lot,” she says. “If people can see this partnership and realize that sport can look different and still be powerful, that is really important.” 

Together, they race not just for podiums, but for the communities watching from home, for the athletes still searching for where they fit, and for the belief that sport can become a place of confidence, acceptance, and possibility. 

The day was historic not only for Mackie but for the sport itself. Stage 3 introduced a brand-new five-kilometre mass start heat format, the first time this race has ever been used in World Cup racing. Mackie thrived in the fast-paced racing, holding her own against seasoned World Cup veterans and surging to fifth in a field stacked with Olympic and World Championship medallists. 

“It’s pretty amazing,” Mackie said after the race. “I definitely didn’t expect that today, but I went into the race really excited to try a new format and race as hard as I could. I was lucky to be in a fast heat, so yeah, it was a great day.” 

For Mackie, the performance is a continuation of a remarkable trajectory. Just last season, she captured two bronze medals at the 2025 World Junior Championships, and now, less than a year later, she’s proving she belongs on the World Cup circuit to compete with the best. At only 20 years old, her result is more than a personal milestone — it’s a statement. 

Before the start, Mackie noted how important working together with athletes from other nations would be for success in the new format. “While we were waiting to grab our skis from fluoro testing, I could see some of the older, faster athletes like Jessie [Diggins] and some of the Swedish girls talking about strategy. I knew right away that everyone wanted to be in the fastest heat possible because that gives you an advantage.” 

She played her cards perfectly. “I didn’t do any leading, but I stuck with the leaders as much as I could. In the last kilometre, I think I went from 10th to 5th. I found a second gear and was able to push really hard and pass a few people at the finish.” 

After crossing the finish line in the third heat of the day, she would have to wait to see the times of the athletes in the final heat. “It was definitely nerve-wracking,” Mackie admitted. “At that point, I was still kind of in shock, and even now I don’t think it’s fully sunk in what kind of race I had today. When I saw the leaders from the fourth heat coming into the stadium and saw the time on the TV, I knew I had secured fifth place, which was pretty special.” 

The celebration was equally memorable. “I definitely felt like a newbie,” she laughed about her first World Cup flower ceremony. “Having all the girls who raced today there, along with the coaching staff and wax techs, made it even more meaningful. It’s also been a year since Katherine’s fourth place, and in the same location, we definitely have good momentum as a team.” 

The women’s podium featured Jessie Diggins of the United States taking the win in 10:51.2, with Sweden’s Emma Ribom in second at 10:56.7 and countrymate Moa Ilar in third at 10:58.1. Mackie’s final race time was 10:59.5, just 1.4 seconds off the podium. 

Mackie’s result also places her in elite company. She becomes the fourth Canadian woman to finish inside the top five on the World Cup in the past two years, joining Katherine Stewart-Jones, who finished fourth exactly one year ago; Sonjaa Schmidt, who raced to fourth in the sprint free technique race in Engadine; and Liliane Gagnon, who teamed up with Schmidt for fifth in the team sprint in Davos. This growing list of breakthrough performances highlights the depth and upward trajectory of Canada’s women’s program. 

Canada’s success didn’t stop with Mackie. The men’s squad delivered one of its strongest collective performances in years, placing three inside the top 15. Antoine Cyr led the way in 11th, while Xavier McKeever (13th) and Max Hollmann (14th) both achieved personal-best World Cup finishes. The trio combined with Tom Stephen to work as a team and keep the pace high. Stephen played an instrumental role leading the race in the final two kilometres, forcing the group to keep pushing the pace for Cyr, Hollmann and McKeever to move to the front of the heat across the finish line. 

The men’s podium featured Gus Schumacher of the United States taking the win in 9:35.4, with Austria’s Benjamin Moser in second at 9:35.6 and Norway’s Lars Heggen in third at 9:36.0. 

Mackie credited the team’s wax techs for an instrumental role in today’s results. “We had amazing skis today — absolute rockets — which is a huge asset, especially in a mass start. I also think this format has some luck involved, depending on which heat you’re in and who has their best day. It was a bit of an unknown how each heat would play out, but I think it really favoured the Canadians today, which was really cool to see.” 

The team will race one more time in Toblach before heading to Val di Fiemme for the final two stages of the Tour. The races will take place at the same venue as the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics, providing a perfect test event ahead of the Games. 

Canadian Results – Stage 3
Women
5th Alison Mackie
44th Olivia Bouffard-Nesbitt
49th Jasmine Drolet
58th Liliane Gagnon 

Men
11th Antoine Cyr
13th Xavier McKeever
14th Max Hollmann
59th Tom Stephen
60th Rémi Drolet
82nd Graham Ritchie 

Full results:
Women’s Stage 3: https://www.fis-ski.com/DB/general/results.html?sectorcode=CC&raceid=49538
Men’s Stage 3: https://www.fis-ski.com/DB/general/results.html?sectorcode=CC&raceid=49539 

How does it work? 

The Annual Club Fundraiser is a 3-month drive to raise funds (January 12 to March 31).  Clubs get to make their own fundraising page on Canada helps with videos, pictures and fundraising thermometers.  It’s very easy to do and only takes a few minutes.  Donations and donor comments are posted to the fundraising page making it very motivating to give and easy to share on social media.  Donors get a thankyou and tax receipt instantly after donating.  

Nordiq Canada will:  

• manage the online donation platform 

• issue tax receipts to donors 

• disburse funds to clubs monthly  

Why should my club participate?  

• It’s easy – Nordiq Canada provides the platform for receiving donations.  

• It’s better for donors – as a registered charity, Nordiq Canada can issue tax receipts to your donors, which serves as a huge incentive for many to donate.  

Ready to get started? 

Please complete and email these 2 forms, to mdunn@nordiqcanada.ca: 

• Annual Club Fundraiser Application Form 

• Vendor Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) Request Form  providing your club’s banking information so we can disburse funds to you. 

Questions? Please email Megan at mdunn@nordiqcanada.ca.  

To see this year’s page and a sample of other club’s pages click here: 

https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/nordiq-canada/p2p/Annual-Club-Fundraiser-26/ 

Click above to view the Selection Rationale

Congratulations to the following athletes who have been selected to the World Cup Period Two and Three (2 & 3) Team with races in Toblach and Val di Fiemme, Oberhof and Goms from December 26^th, 2025 – January 25^th, 2026. Athlete selections were based on the 2025-26 Nordiq Canada Competition Trip Selection Criteria.

P2/P3 Team 

Katherine Stewart-Jones – Nakkertok Nordic, AWCA – DECLINED

Sonjaa Schmidt – Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club, AWCA – DECLINED

Liliane Gagnon – Skibec, CNEPH

Amelia Wells – Strathcona Nordics, AWCA – DECLINED

Alison Mackie – Edmonton Nordic Ski Club, AWCA

Jasmine Drolet – Club Nordique Mont-Sainte-Anne, CNEPH

Olivia Bouffard-Nesbitt – Fondeurs-Laurentides, AWCA

Tom Stephen – Foothills Nordic Ski Club, AWCA

Max Hollmann – Big Thunder Nordic, AWCA

Antoine Cyr – Skinouk, CNEPH

Rémi Drolet – Black Jack Ski Club, SMS T2

Xavier McKeever – Foothills Nordic Ski Club, AWCA

Graham Ritchie – Georgian Nordic, NTDC T-Bay

Athlete nominations were made by the Acting High-Performance Director (HPD) and reviewed by the High-Performance Committee (HPC) based on the 2025-26 Nordiq Canada Competition Trip Selection Criteria. The HPC oversaw the selection process as per the Nordiq Canada Nomination, Selection and Announcement policy. Members of this committee are:

• Graham Nishikawa (athlete rep – Para)
• Devon Kershaw (athlete rep – Olympic)
• Maria Lundgren (BC)
• Pauline Nadlersmith (MB)
• John Lofranco (Athletics Canada)

Final athlete selections were approved by Eric De Nys, Acting High-Performance Director: Edenys@nordiqcanada.ca

Selection decisions may be appealed under the Nordiq Canada Dispute Resolution and Appeals Policy. Any dispute must be brought directly to the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada (SDRCC) to be heard pursuant to the Canadian Sport Dispute Resolution Code. An athlete who wishes to appeal shall file an appeal with the SDRCC within three (3) days of the nomination Synopsis and Rationale being posted to the Nordiq Canada website.

Click above to view the Selection Rationale

Congratulations to the following Athletes who have met criteria for nomination to the Canadian Olympic Committee for the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games based on the Nordiq Canada 2026 Olympic Winter Games Selection Criteria (Internal Nomination Procedure).

This Synopsis and Rationale is not a team announcement and is only used to rationalize the Athletes who have met criteria for nomination. The official team announcement for the 2026 Milano Cortina cross-country Olympic team is December 19^th, 2025.

Canada currently has 6 quota spots for females, and 5 for males. One alternate for each gender has been nominated.

Nominations 

Antoine Cyr (Gatineau, Que.)
Jasmine Drolet (Rossland, B.C.)
Rémi Drolet (Rossland, B.C.)
Liliane Gagnon (Shawinigan-Sud, Que.)
Max Hollmann (Thunder Bay, Ont.)
Alison Mackie (Edmonton, Alta.)
Xavier McKeever (Canmore, Alta.)
Sonjaa Schmidt (Whitehorse, Yuk.)
Tom Stephen (Calgary, Alta.)
Katherine Stewart-Jones (Chelsea, Que.)
Amelia Wells (Victoria, B.C.)

 Alternate Nominations

Olivia Bouffard-Nesbitt (Morin Heights, Que.)
Graham Ritchie (Parry Sound, Ont.)

Athlete nominations were made by the Acting High-Performance Director (HPD) and reviewed by the High-Performance Committee (HPC) based on the 2026 Olympic Winter Games Selection Criteria (Internal Nomination Procedure) – Amended Aug 28. The HPC oversaw the nomination process as per the Nordiq Canada Nomination, Selection and Announcement policy. Members of this committee are:

• Graham Nishikawa (athlete rep – Para)
• Devon Kershaw (athlete rep – Olympic)
• Maria Lundgren (BC)
• Pauline Nadlersmith (MB)
• John Lofranco (Athletics Canada)

Final athlete nominations were approved by Eric de Nys, Acting High-Performance Director: edenys@nordiqcanada.ca

Nomination decisions may be appealed under the Nordiq Canada Dispute Resolution and Appeals Policy. Any dispute must be brought directly to the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada (SDRCC) to be heard pursuant to the Canadian Sport Dispute Resolution Code. An athlete who wishes to appeal shall file an appeal with the SDRCC within three (3) days of the nomination Synopsis and Rationale being posted to the Nordiq Canada website.

The 11 athletes qualified for Team Canada based on meeting the criteria outlined in Nordiq Canada’s Internal Nomination Procedures for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, including strong performances at the Nordiq Canada 2026 Olympic Winter Games Trials, which took place December 14-16 at the Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre in Vernon, British Columbia.

Katherine Stewart-Jones earned priority nomination for the Olympic team by having achieved two top-10 finishes in individual events during the 2024-25 FIS World Cup season. She will make her second Olympic appearance, after having competed at Beijing 2022. Stewart-Jones earned a career-best 4th-place finish in the women’s 20km freestyle on the World Cup circuit last December in Toblach, Italy. She helped her teammates race to a 9th-place finish in the women’s 4×7.5km relay at the 2025 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships.

“It’s so exciting,” said Stewart-Jones. “I love racing, and especially when it’s on an even bigger stage. I really do think that pressure is a privilege in a lot of ways, and to get the opportunity to race at the highest level, at the Olympic Games, it’s going to be so exciting.”

Also making his return to the Olympic Winter Games is Antoine Cyr, who had a history-making moment in his Olympic debut at Beijing 2022 when he finished fifth in the men’s team sprint alongside Graham Ritchie for Canada’s best ever Olympic result in the event in classic technique. Cyr bettered that placement the following year at the 2023 FIS World Ski Championships with a fourth-place in free technique. Cyr also contributed to the fifth-place finish that the Canadian men achieved in the 4×7.5km relay at the 2025 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, alongside teammates Xavier McKeever, Max Hollmann, and Olivier Léveillé.

Making his Olympic debut, McKeever will join a family lineage of Olympic and Paralympic athletes. Son of Olympians Milaine Thériault and Robin McKeever, and nephew of Canada’s most decorated winter Paralympian, Brian McKeever, the 22-year-old McKeever will race for Team Canada as one of Nordiq Canada’s best young prospects. He contributed to Canada’s silver medal relay team at the 2022 FIS World Junior Championships with Rémi Drolet, Tom Stephen, and Olivier Léveillé, and teamed up with Cyr to finish ninth in the classic team sprint at the 2025 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships. McKeever earned his spot on the Canadian Olympic Team after winning the sprint free in the final race at Nordiq Canada’s Olympic Trials in a photo finish.

“My decision to become a skier was created at the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Games watching my uncle and dad compete and win, so in my career I’ve had so many full circle moments, and this is another one of those full circle moments,” said McKeever. “Getting the chance to represent Canada at the Olympics is incredible, and it’s also so crazy that I’m going to be racing in Italy which is where I watched my mom compete at Turin 2006 when I was two years old. So it’s a pretty surreal moment to be able to race in Italy at the Olympics, 20 years later.”

Five women—Jasmine Drolet, Liliane Gagnon, Alison Mackie, Sonjaa Schmidt and Amelia Wells—will all make their Olympic debuts at Milano Cortina 2026 as part of a young and talented squad. Schmidt made Canadian history when she won the women’s freestyle sprint at the FIS U23 World Ski Championships in 2024. She followed that up with a fourth-place finish in the same event at the Engadin stop of the FIS World Cup circuit in January 2025. Meanwhile, Gagnon also captured a gold medal at the 2024 FIS U23 World Ski Championships, anchoring the 4x5km mixed relay with Hollmann, Jasmine Drolet, and Derek Deuling. Gagnon then won two bronze medals at the 2025 FIS U23 World Ski Championships, in the women’s 10km freestyle and the women’s 20km classic mass start.

Siblings Jasmine and Rémi Drolet will experience an Olympic Winter Games together, after Rémi competed for Team Canada at Beijing 2022. Tom Stephen and Max Hollmann will also make their Olympic debuts, after earning their nominations by winning the men’s 10km classic and men’s 10km free, respectively, at Nordiq Canada’s Olympic Winter Games Trials.

“This is one of the most promising generations of Canadian cross-country skiers we’ve seen in years,” said Beckie Scott, Olympic champion and CEO of Nordiq Canada. “The team is a strong mix of young talent and experienced veterans who can lead the group and set the standard both on and off the snow. We’re incredibly proud of this Olympic team and excited to cheer them on as they represent Canada on the world’s stage. It’s inspiring to watch this group continue to grow, challenge the world’s best, and show what Canadian skiers are capable of.”

Team Canada has won three Olympic cross-country skiing medals, all by women. Beckie Scott won gold in the 5km + 5km pursuit at Salt Lake City 2002. She teamed with Sara Renner to win silver in the women’s classic team sprint at Turin 2006. Also at those Games, Chandra Crawford won gold in the women’s free sprint.

Milano Cortina 2026 will be the first Olympic Winter Games at which the men and women will race the same distances, including the 50km mass start.

Cross-country skiing will take place February 7 to 22, 2026 (Days 1 to 16) at the Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium in the Val di Fiemme region.

“Huge congratulations to the athletes who can now call themselves members of the Canadian Olympic Team,” said Jenn Heil, Team Canada’s Milano Cortina 2026 Chef de Mission. “The tenacity, resilience, and the incredible volume of training required in this sport is nothing short of inspiring. Congratulations on all your hard work, and we can’t wait to cheer you on as you wear the maple leaf with pride in Italy.”

Team Canada’s cross-country skiing team for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games also includes the following alternate athletes, coaches and support staff:

Alternate Athletes
Olivia Bouffard-Nesbitt (Morin Heights, Que.)
Graham Ritchie (Parry Sound, Ont.)

Coaches and Support Staff
Eric de Nys (Vernon, B.C.) – Team Leader
Julia Mehre Ystgaard (Oslo, Norway) – Head Coach
Louis Bouchard (Quebec, Que.) – Coach
Yves Bilodeau (Quebec, Que.) – Wax Technician
Nicola Bonetti (Clusone, Italy) – Wax Technician
Sara Hutter (Laas, Italy) – Wax Technician
Toomas Kollo (Tallinn, Estonia) – Wax Technician
Alain Masson (Whitehorse, Yukon ) – Wax Technician
Magnus Noroy (Levanger, Norway) – Wax Technician
Jodi Perras (North Battleford, Sask.) – Massage Therapist
Thea Schwingshakl (Toblach, Italy) – Wax Technician
Félix-Antoine Vézina (Saint-Ferréol-Les-Neiges) – Wax Technician

Prior to being named to Team Canada, all nominations are subject to approval by the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Team Selection Committee following its receipt of nominations by all National Sport Organizations.

The latest Team Canada Milano Cortina 2026 roster can be found here and the qualification tracker can be found here.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Nathaniel Mah, Marketing and Engagement
Nordiq Canada
C: 403-700-4927 
E: nmah@nordiqcanada.ca 

Tara MacBournie, Program Manager, Sport Communications
Canadian Olympic Committee
C: 647-522-8328
E: tmacbournie@olympic.ca

Click above to view the Selection Rationale

Congratulations to the following athletes who have been selected to the Para Nordic World Cup Period Two (2) Team with Para Cross Country and Para Biathlon races in Notschrei GER / Finsterau GER / Jakuszyce POL from January 6^th – January 25^th, 2026. Athlete selections were based on the 2025-26 Para Nordic Competition Trip Selection Criteria.

P2 Cross-Country Team

Collin Cameron – ON

Derek Zaplotisnky – AB

Mark Arendz – PEI

Jesse Bachinsky / Levi Nadlersmith – ON

Logan Lariviere / Joe Hutton – ON

Leo Sammarelli – BC

Natalie Wilkie – BC

Madison Mullin / Brooke Ailey – ON

Brittany Hudak – SK

Christina Picton – ON

Emma Archibald – NS

Lyne-Marie Bilodeau – QC

P2 Biathlon Team

Mark Arendz – PEI

Collin Cameron – ON

Derek Zaplotisnky – AB

Natalie Wilkie – BC

Brittany Hudak – SK

Madison Mullin / Brooke Ailey – ON

Christina Picton – ON

Nomination Process: 

Athlete nominations were made by the High-Performance Manager and reviewed by the High-Performance Committee (HPC) based on the 2025-26 Nordiq Canada Competition Trip Selection Criteria. The HPC oversaw the selection process as per the Nordiq Canada Nomination, Selection and Announcement policy.  Members of this committee are:

• Graham Nishikawa (athlete rep – Para)
• Devon Kershaw (athlete rep – Olympic)
• Maria Lundgren (BC)
• Pauline Nadlersmith (MB)
• John Lofranco (Athletics Canada)

Final athlete selections were approved by Marshall Starkman, Para High-Performance Manager: mstarkman@nordiqcanada.ca

Selection decisions may be appealed under the Nordiq Canada Dispute Resolution and Appeals Policy. Any dispute must be brought directly to the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada (SDRCC) to be heard pursuant to the Canadian Sport Dispute Resolution Code. An athlete who wishes to appeal shall file an appeal with the SDRCC within three (3) days of the nomination Synopsis and Rationale being posted to the Nordiq Canada website.

Notes: 

No female athletes are in a position to be named as ‘alternates’ for Paralympic Games nomination as they have not met the IPC’s Eligibility requirements.

One male athlete does meet the IPC’s Eligibility requirements, but we have elected (per our policy) not to name that athlete to the P2 trip in order to focus our attention on the 12 athletes who will be nominated to the Paralympic Games.  We will look to provide support domestically to keep this athlete engaged as an ‘alternate’ in the lead-up to the Paralympics.

1. Xavier McKeever — (Canmore, Alta.)
2. Graham Ritchie — (Parry Sound, Ont.)
3. Rémi Drolet — (Rossland, B.C.)

1. Olivia Bouffard-Nesbitt — (Morin-Heights, Que.)
2. Katie Weaver —  (North Vancouver, B.C.)
3. Sonjaa Schmidt — (Whitehorse, Yukon)

Hollmann, from Thunder Bay, Ont., crossed the line in 24:50.8 to take the men’s victory, just ahead of Rémi Drolet (25:04.0, Rossland, B.C.) and Tom Stephen (25:16.7, Calgary, Alta.).

The win was surprising for Hollmann, who broke his scaphoid bone and underwent surgery in early October, spending months training without poles. “Feels great. I was definitely not expecting it,” Hollmann said. “Eleven weeks ago I broke my scaphoid, got surgery five weeks ago, and the surgeon said I might not even be skiing by now. Honestly, I had no expectations, I’m just happy to be here.”

From not even knowing if he was going to able to race at the event to winning, Hollmann said the moment he realized he had won was unforgettable.

“I didn’t actually realize I was leading when I crossed the line until I saw my teammates,” he said. “Seeing their faces light up and feeding off that energy was amazing.”

In the women’s race, Schmidt celebrated her birthday by claiming her second consecutive win with a time of 28:36.2. Jasmine Drolet (29:05.7, Rossland, B.C.) came back from a tough first day of racing to finish second, while Amelia Wells (29:36.1, Victoria, B.C.) rounded out the podium.

Drolet’s rebound was one of the highlights of the day. After crossing the line in tears yesterday, the U23 World Championship relay gold medalist showed resilience in a technique that isn’t her specialty.

Her brother Rémi also finished second in the men’s race, making it a family double podium.

“It feels good,” Drolet said. “I had a lot of pent-up energy from yesterday and wanted to give it my all today. Free technique isn’t my strongest, so to finish second feels amazing. Yesterday was hard, but I knew I had more to give.” Both Hollmann and Drolet were part of Canada’s U23 gold medal relay team in Planica, Slovenia, and their performances prove their potential for the Olympic stage.

Tomorrow will be the trials first head-to-head format race with the sprint free event hosting the perfect platform for athletes to try to grab a remaining nomination spot on Canada’s cross-country Olympic Team.

Women’s podium:

1. Sonjaa Schmidt — 28:36.2 (Whitehorse, Yukon)
2. Jasmine Drolet — 29:05.7 (Rossland, B.C.)
3. Amelia Wells — 29:36.1 (Victoria, B.C.)

Men’s podium:

1. Max Hollmann — 24:50.8 (Thunder Bay, Ont.)
2. Rémi Drolet — 25:04.0 (Rossland, B.C.)
3. Tom Stephen — 25:16.7 (Calgary, Alta.)

Full Results: https://zone4.ca/race/2025-12-15/67a43f40/results

Photos for Media use (Photo Credit Vanessa Garrison): https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1QjgMmcsHsAcaGfXsxIPiyk2z8eyvGlTe?usp=drive_link

Athlete interviews:  https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1QjgMmcsHsAcaGfXsxIPiyk2z8eyvGlTe?usp=drive_link