The Milano-Cortina Olympics kicked off to mixed results for Canada, which is pursuing medal opportunities on Day 2, coinciding with Super Bowl Sunday. While Canadian athletes showed promise, they faced challenges in various events.
Canada’s Medal Hopes at the Olympics: Day 2 Overview
Canada started the day with a bronze medal already secured by speed skater Valérie Maltais. However, additional prospects for medals did not materialize. The Canadian figure skating team finished fifth, falling short of expectations in their event.
In speed skating, veteran Ted-Jan Bloemen finished 13th in the men’s 5,000m, mirroring the results of fellow Canadian athlete Xavier McKeever, who also placed 13th in the men’s skiathlon. In snowboarding, Canadian participants were unable to advance beyond the quarterfinals in the parallel giant slalom, while Laurie Blouin and Juliette Pelchat missed out on the women’s big air final.
Mixed Doubles Curling
One of the day’s most disappointing outcomes for Canada occurred in mixed doubles curling. The duo of Jocelyn Peterman and Brett Gallant was eliminated from playoff contention after suffering two losses, ending their record at 3-5 following a promising start.
International Highlights
A major story from the Olympics involved American alpine skiing star Lindsey Vonn. Competing with a torn ACL, she suffered a significant crash, resulting in a broken leg and subsequent surgery. Breezy Johnson of the United States claimed gold in the event.
Looking Ahead: Potential Canadian Contenders
As the Olympics progress, Canada has two notable competitors to watch on Day 3:
- Freestyle Skiing: Megan Oldham and Naomi Urness will compete in the women’s slopestyle final at 6:30 a.m. ET. Oldham has a distinguished record, securing medals in recent world championships, while Urness recently shined at the Winter X Games.
- Speed Skating: Béatrice Lamarche will compete in the women’s 1,000m at 11:30 a.m. ET. Despite her talents, she faces tough competition from world champion Jutta Leerdam.
Other Notable Events
Additional events of interest include:
- Mixed Doubles Curling: The round-robin finales will begin at 4:05 a.m. ET. Unfortunately, Peterman and Gallant have no playoff implications.
- Alpine Skiing: The men’s team combined event starts at 4:30 a.m. ET.
- Figure Skating: Ice dance competition begins at 1:20 p.m. ET, featuring strong contenders from Canada.
- Women’s Hockey: Canada will face Czechia at 3:10 p.m. ET, following a dominant win against Switzerland.
How to Watch the Olympics
Viewers can catch all the Milano-Cortina Olympics action on CBC, along with partner networks Sportsnet and TSN. Streaming is available through the CBC Gem app, offering both live and on-demand access. For a detailed schedule, visit El-Balad’s Olympics page.
As competitions unfold, fans will continue to support Canadian athletes in their quest for Olympic glory.
