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Media Release, Nordiq Canada News

Xavier McKeever Writes His Name onto the Nomination List While Olivia Bouffard-Nesbitt Wins the Sprint Free on Final Day of the 2026 Olympic Trials

December 16, 2025
Vernon, B.C. Dec. 16, 2025 — The Nordiq Canada 2026 Olympic Winter Games Trials concluded in dramatic fashion at Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre with the sprint free event, where Xavier McKeever and Olivia Bouffard-Nesbitt claimed victories in the finals.
Late Monday evening, Nordiq Canada confirmed an additional quota spot for the men’s team, meaning the winner of today’s sprint would meet criteria for nomination to Canada’s Olympic cross-country skiing team. For the women, the battle was for the first alternate position, adding intensity to every heat.
McKeever, from Canmore, Alta., delivered under pressure to win the men’s final and secure his Olympic nomination. His victory capped an emotional week and underscored his pedigree as the son of Olympians Robin McKeever and Milaine Thériault, and nephew of 20-time Paralympic medalist Brian McKeever.
To calm his nerves ahead of the race, McKeever spent the morning building a Lego set, a ritual he says helps him focus.
“I needed something to take my mind off the pressure,” McKeever said. “Building Lego gave me a sense of calm before the chaos.”
The men’s final was a showdown of Canada’s best, decided in the last meters. McKeever held the lead into the finishing straight, but Graham Ritchie surged alongside him in a dramatic photo finish. McKeever lunged for the line, winning by a single boot length.
When he crossed the finish line, his teammates rushed the finish corral to celebrate, and moments later, his parents joined him, sharing the moment with tears in their eyes.
“Celebrating with my teammates and family was incredible,” McKeever said. “They’ve been with me through every high and low. To share this moment with them means everything.”
“This week has been so tough,” McKeever added. “Coming into today, it was do or die. I woke up at 4 a.m. ready to race. It feels incredible to have taken that opportunity. At the same time, it’s bittersweet because sport can be brutal, my success today came at the expense of a teammate not making the team.”
Graham Ritchie, who competed at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, finished second after setting the fastest qualifying time. Ritchie’s journey to this moment has been remarkable; he broke his leg two years ago, missed an entire season, and spent months rebuilding his strength to return to racing. To be nominated as an alternate is no small feat considering everything he has endured to return to racing.
“It takes a village to produce an Olympian,” Ritchie said. “I’ve had so many people in my corner helping me get back to racing at this level. If Canada gets another spot, it would mean so much, not just for me, but for the team. We’re within reach of a medal as a nation, and I want to be part of that.”
Olivia Bouffard-Nesbitt, from Morin-Heights, Que., took the women’s win, earning the first alternate position for the Olympic team. Bouffard-Nesbitt also represented Canada at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, and her experience showed as she perfectly navigated the heats to finish on the top step of the podium.
Katie Weaver, who set the fastest qualification time, finished second in the women’s final, while Sonjaa Schmidt, winner of both distance races earlier this week placed third.
Men’s Final Podium
  1. Xavier McKeever — (Canmore, Alta.)
  2. Graham Ritchie — (Parry Sound, Ont.)
  3. Rémi Drolet — (Rossland, B.C.)
Women’s Final Podium
  1. Olivia Bouffard-Nesbitt — (Morin-Heights, Que.)
  2. Katie Weaver —  (North Vancouver, B.C.)
  3. Sonjaa Schmidt — (Whitehorse, Yukon)
There was no better way to decide the final nomination spots than in a head-to-head sprint format. The event was flawlessly executed thanks to the Sovereign Lake organizing committee, the jury, and countless volunteers who dedicated their time to help Canada nominate athletes to the Olympic team. Nordiq Canada will announce the official Olympic team in conjunction with the Canadian Olympic Committee on Dec. 19.