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Many athletes connected to Ottawa-Gatineau and nearby regions are representing Canada and other countries at Milano Cortina 2026.

The Games have officially started, with two days of competitions leading up to Friday’s Opening Ceremony.

Here’s a look at the local athletes to keep an eye on during the Winter Games.

Speed skating

The National Capital Region will be strongly represented on the ice, featuring three athletes competing for Team Canada:

Both Weidemann and Blondin are considered strong contenders for medals according to an analysis done by CBC Sports. They will race in their first event – the 3000-metre – on Saturday.

Brunet, who comes from a family of Olympic and professional athletes, will make his Olympic debut as he competes in the 500-metre event.

CBC’s Omar Dabaghi-Pacheco will report on the events taking place at the Milano Speed Skating Stadium. He has been preparing for this role by learning about speed skating with the Gloucester Concordes, where both Weidemann and Blondin began their careers.

WATCH | Omar Dabaghi-Pacheco’s primer on speed skating:

How tough is the fastest human-powered Olympic sport?

It’s recognized as the fastest human-powered winter sport, and Canadians are leading in it. The CBC’s Omar Dabaghi-Pacheco put on his skates and hit the ice to discover just how challenging speed skating really is.

Alpine skiing

Ski-cross siblings Jared and Hannah Schmidt from Ottawa will compete for Team Canada on February 20 and 21:

Grenier aims for a podium finish in her third Winter Games after securing five medals in World Cup events.

WATCH | Grenier settles for fourth at World Cup :

Canada’s Valerie Grenier just misses the World Cup giant slalom podium in Austria

Valerie Grenier from St. Isidore, Ont., finished fourth, missing out on a medal by less than half a second in Semmering.

Biathlon

You should watch these two athletes with ties to Ottawa competing at Antholz-Anterselva Biathlon Arena:

Connelly and Rousseau might team up in the 4×6 kilometre mixed relay scheduled for Sunday, February 8.

Bobsleigh

The Canadian bobsleigh team includes three athletes linked to Ottawa, including two former football players from Carleton University:

Mike Evelyn O’Higgins (Ottawa, Ont.) – Two-man and four-man bobsleigh Jay Dearborn (Yarker, Ont., former Carleton Raven) – Two-man and four-man bobsleigh Keaton Bruggeling (St. Catharines, Ont., former Carleton Raven and Ottawa Red Black) – Four-man bobsleigh

Evelyn O’Higgins and Dearborn will push Canada’s two-man sled on February 16 and 17. Keaton Bruggeling, who was drafted by Ottawa Red Blacks in 2022, will join them for the four-man event set for February 21 and 22.

Cross-country skiing

A pair of experienced skiers from Gatineau will represent Canada at Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium.>

Stewart-Jones kicks off her events with skiathlon on Saturday while Cyr competes Sunday.>

Curling

The Homan team is aiming high as they chase gold at Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium:>WATCH | CBC Sports’ Devin Heroux sits down with Rachel Homan:>

Rachel Homan hoping third time’s charm at Milano Cortina 2026>CBC Sports’ Devin Heroux spoke with Rachel Homan about her goal of winning an Olympic medal after falling short in curling back in 2018 as well as mixed doubles podium last year.>Homan along with Miskew will have plenty of supporters watching back home from Ottawa Curling Club.>

Figure skating

A couple of figure skaters hailing from eastern Ontario are ready to take center stage alongside their partners representing Canada.>

Poirier together with partner Piper Gilles are seen as strong medal contenders.<پ WATCH | What you need to know about figure skating at the Games:<پ

Figure skating at Milano Cortina 2026: Everything you need to know</پ The opening ceremony is just around corner now that Team Canada athletes get ready; CBC Ottawa's Omar Dabaghi-Pacheco offers insights ahead of competition.<ح

/* Additional content omitted */ UPDATE (Feb. 5,
2026): A previous version of this story contained information that identified a person’s home. CBC has removed video from this story that identified that address.The women’s tournament starts Thursday when Canada faces Finland while Czechia goes against U. S. A.; men’s tournament begins Feb. 11 featuring Slovakia vs. Finland along with Sweden facing Italy.

Officials & support crew Jean “Rocky” Lamontagne (Ottawa Pacers) WATCH | Meet chief starter for men’s short track speed skating:

Why this Ottawa dad is participating in Olympics – not as an athleteJean Lamontagne has long volunteered with Ottawa Pacers Speed Skating Club; he’ll be chief starter during all men’s short-track events at Milan Games.
A complete competition schedule can be found online via Milano Cortina 2026 site.
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