Day 2 of Milano Cortina 2026: Canada's Near Misses and Unlucky Breaks
February 8th, 2026, was a day of mixed fortunes for Team Canada. While they didn't add to their medal tally, the Canadian athletes showcased their talent and determination across various sports. Here's a recap of their performances, leaving us on the edge of our seats!
Figure Skating:
Canada's figure skaters displayed grace and skill, securing fifth place in the team event. With 54 points, they narrowly missed the podium, as the US, Japan, and Italy claimed the top spots. The pairs of Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud, and Madeline Schizas in the women's free skate, impressed with their routines. Stephen Gogolev's two clean quad salchows in the men's event were a highlight, earning him fourth place.
Snowboard:
Arnaud Gaudet's journey in the parallel giant slalom was a rollercoaster. He reached the quarterfinals but faced a heartbreaking elimination, missing the bronze medal by a mere 0.03 seconds. Ben Heldman, in his Olympic debut, placed 26th. In the women's PGS, Aurélie Moisan and Kaylie Buck made it to the ⅛ finals, finishing 12th and 14th, respectively.
Cross-Country Skiing:
Xavier McKeever, a second-generation Olympian, shone in the men's 20km skiathlon, placing 13th. This new Olympic event saw McKeever improve his position during the freestyle leg. Antoine Cyr and Max Hollmann finished 25th and 27th, respectively, while Rémi Drolet placed 42nd.
Curling:
Canada's mixed doubles curling team, Jocelyn Peterman and Brett Gallant, faced disappointment on Day 2. Losing both their matches, first to Sweden and then to South Korea, ended their medal hopes.
Biathlon:
The mixed relay team, consisting of Adam Runnalls, Jasper Fleming, Pascale Paradis, and Nadia Moser, finished 17th in their Olympic debuts. Runnalls' clean shooting put Canada in a strong position early on. Fleming's youth and inexperience showed in the range, but the team persevered.
Alpine Skiing:
Valérie Grenier's Olympic moment was cut short by an unfortunate pole issue at the start, leading to disqualification. Despite the setback, she expressed her readiness to compete. Cassidy Gray finished 26th in the same event, and both athletes will represent Canada in the team combined event.
Long Track Speed Skating:
Veteran Ted-Jan Bloemen, in his third Olympics, placed 13th in the men's 5000m. The event was dominated by Norway's Sander Eitrim, who set a new Olympic record.
And there you have it—a day of near misses and unlucky breaks for Team Canada. But their spirit and resilience shone through, leaving fans eager to see what Day 3 has in store. Are these setbacks a sign of bad luck, or is there a strategy adjustment needed? Share your thoughts below!
