When the final medals were tallied at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan–Cortina, Team Canada’s performance was a mix of pride and introspection. The red and white finished with 21 medals, five gold, seven silver and nine bronzes, their lowest total at a Winter Games since 2002 and a finish outside the top five in the overall standings for the first time in decades. Countries like Norway, with a staggering 41 medals and 18 golds led by
cross-country phenom Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, and the United States, with 33 total medals and a record-setting 11 golds, set a new standard that Canada found difficult to match.
There were undeniable highlights, such as in curling, as skip Brad Jacobs, alongside Marc Kennedy, Brett Gallant, and Ben Hebert, delivered a gripping gold medal performance against Great Britain’s world No. 1 rink. In a game that swung back and forth through every end, Canada ultimately clinched the title 9–6, a testament to experience and nerve under pressure. Freestyle skiing also delivered some highlights as Megan Oldham soared to gold in women’s ski big air, and Brendan MacKay earned bronze in the men’s halfpipe behind Norway’s Henry Sildaru and American Alex Ferreira. These podiums underscored Canada’s continued strength in aerial and terrain-based events.
However, these games weren’t without their shortcomings. In hockey, both the men’s and women’s teams fought to the final edge before falling to their long-time rivals from the United States in 2-1 overtime decisions. Silvers in short track from Ivanie Blondin in the mass start and in team pursuit speed skating, with Blondin, Valérie Maltais and Isabelle Weidemann reminded fans that the margins between gold and silver are razor thin at this level. In the lead-up to Milan-Cortina, officials from the Canadian Olympic Committee had openly warned that years of stagnant funding could erode Canada’s competitive edge. Canadian Olympic Committee CEO David Shoemaker noted bluntly that “core funding for national sport organizations has not increased in 20 years,” leaving programs stretched thin in times of inflation. (via Reuters)
The consequences were most visible in disciplines like cross-country skiing, where athletes didn’t have the resources to hold an on-snow training camp ahead of the Games. As reported by Inside the Games, team members were left piecing together preparation around tighter budgets. At the same time, rivals from Norway and Sweden skied, waxed and acclimated in Europe weeks in advance. The results showed that Canadian skiers finished outside the top ranks in distances where every second counts. “Flat operational funding … in an inflationary world is a cut,”(via Reuters) Canada’s chef de mission, Jennifer Heil, said after the Games, highlighting that the landscape for winter sport is evolving quickly.
The cost to compete at the highest level has shifted in recent years, and many promising competitors face out-of-pocket expenses that would have been unimaginable at past Olympics. For Canada’s system, historically built through initiatives like Own the Podium, which helped boost medal totals in the 2010 and 2018 cycles, this represents a strategic inflection point. Milan was definitely a moment of clarity for the COC as officials have already laid parts of the groundwork for future improvement: a push for the roughly $144 million in additional funding they pitched to the federal government, renewed focus on athlete development pathways, and deeper support for emerging talents who will compete in the 2030 Winter Games in the French Alps. (via Reuters)
Looking ahead, Team Canada’s stage is set to build on strengths like curling precision and freestyle flair, address the gaps in endurance and technical disciplines, and match the ambition of nations with deeper investment. The road from Milan doesn’t end at critique, but a launchpad realigning expectations, supporting athletes more effectively, and ensuring that when the next winter Olympics arrive, it will be the Maple Leaf at the forefront.
In the end, the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan–Cortina weren’t a tale of decline, nor a storybook resurgence. They were a reminder that sport, much like the athletes who compete in it, lives in the space between aspiration and execution. Canada’s journey between those points continues.
Contributed Graphic/Ashwin Jaiswal
