What to know for this week’s speed skating World Cup in Calgary
As the 2026 Winter Olympics draw closer, Canada’s long track speed skaters are gearing up for what promises to be another successful Games. With a strong showing in Beijing in 2022, where they claimed five medals, the Canadian team is looking to build on their success.
Last year, at the single-distances world championships in Calgary, Canadian skaters set a national record by winning 10 medals, second only to the Netherlands. This week, the top skaters from around the world are back at Calgary’s Olympic Oval for a three-day World Cup meet, the third stop on the tour.
Leading the charge for Canada are standout athletes like Ivanie Blondin, a five-time world champion and 2022 Olympic gold medallist in the women’s team pursuit. Blondin has already shown her prowess this season by winning medals of all colors at the first World Cup meet.
Other key Canadian skaters to watch include Isabelle Weidemann, a triple medallist at the Beijing Olympics, and Laurent Dubreuil, a three-time world champion and 2022 Olympic silver medallist. With a strong contingent of 28 skaters, including 10 Olympians and five Olympic medal winners, Canada is poised for success in Calgary.
One international skater to keep an eye on is Jordan Stolz, the 20-year-old American sensation who has been dominating the World Cup tour with four gold medals at each of the last four stops. Stolz is a rising star in the sport and is expected to make a big impact at the upcoming Winter Games.
While the focus is on the competition, there are concerns about the state of the Olympic Oval in Calgary. The venue, which was built for the 1988 Winter Olympics, is showing signs of age with leaking pipes underneath the ice. There are calls for a $60 million renovation to ensure the facility can continue to host events, but funding has been slow to materialize.
Despite the challenges, the excitement for the World Cup meet in Calgary is palpable. Fans can catch all the action live on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem, with races airing on the CBC TV network on Sunday. As the countdown to the 2026 Winter Olympics continues, Canadian speed skaters are ready to showcase their talent on the world stage once again.
