Olympics – Winnipeg Free Press

Cameron Spencer/Pool Photo
Flag bearers from Canada, Mikael Kingsbury and Marielle Thompson, lead the team during the Olympic opening ceremony at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Friday.

Let the Games begin

Camaraderie and community are everywhere at spread out Olympic sites

Mike McIntyre 8 minute read Yesterday at 5:45 PM CST

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Canadian snowboarder Meryeta O’Dine ‘heartbroken’ after injury ends Olympic hopes

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Canadian snowboarder Meryeta O’Dine ‘heartbroken’ after injury ends Olympic hopes

The Canadian Press 2 minute read 10:53 AM CST

LIVIGNO - Two-time Olympic bronze medallist Meryeta O’Dine says she's heartbroken but looking forward after an injury forced her to miss the Milan Cortina snowboard cross events.

The Canadian Olympic Committee announced Saturday that the 28-year-old from Prince George, B.C., fell in training and fractured an ankle bone.

O'Dine said her injury occurred Friday while navigating a series of three rollers.

"I got a little bit late on the first one and kind of got flipped a bit sideways and just smacked right into the last roller," she said Saturday.

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10:53 AM CST

Canada's Meryeta O'Dine and Eliot Grondin celebrate their bronze medal in mixed team snowboard cross at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics in Zhangjiakou, China on Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Winnipeg’s Greaves instrumental in Israeli bobsled team Olympic debut

Mike McIntyre 6 minute read Preview

Winnipeg’s Greaves instrumental in Israeli bobsled team Olympic debut

Mike McIntyre 6 minute read Yesterday at 2:09 PM CST

MILAN — You’ll likely remember the Jamaican bobsled team that dropped jaws and turned heads at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, eventually inspiring the movie Cool Runnings.

Well, there may be a new contender for a Hollywood sequel at the Milan Cortina Games here in Italy — and, go figure, a Winnipegger is front and centre. He’s even got a title picked out, just in case.

David Greaves, who works for Friends of the Jewish National Fund of Canada, is also president of the Israeli Olympic Bobsleigh Skeleton Federation. And for the first time, Israel has defied long odds and qualified a team to compete in Olympic bobsled.

“The Yiddish word for synagogue is shul. So this is becoming the ‘Shul Runnings,’” Greaves told the Free Press on Friday with a hearty laugh.

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Yesterday at 2:09 PM CST

SUPPLIED
David Greaves takes a selfie at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games bobsled track. A former bobsledder, Greaves is currently the executive director of the Jewish National Fund of Manitoba and Saskatchewan and president of the Israeli Olympic Bobsleigh Skeleton Federation.

Last minute changes to Canada’s Olympic hockey quests

Mike McIntyre 5 minute read Preview

Last minute changes to Canada’s Olympic hockey quests

Mike McIntyre 5 minute read Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026

MILAN — The winds of change were blowing hard Thursday around the Canadian Olympic hockey teams.

The culprit: illness and injury.

It began with word that Canada’s women’s team would have to wait an extra 48 hours to hit the ice for its opening round-robin game. Their scheduled opponents, Finland, had been decimated by norovirus, which is commonly referred to as a stomach flu.

The first case was reported Tuesday night, but the nasty bug spread quickly. By Thursday morning’s scheduled skate, only 10 Finnish skaters had been cleared to play, with the remaining 13 either confirmed sick or quarantining due to symptoms.

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Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026

FRANK GUNN / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES
Ste. Anne’s Jocelyne Larocque (left) is suiting up for her fourth Olympic games. Saturday’s matchup will serve as the round-robin opener for Team Canada after illness in Finland’s locker room postponed the Thursday clash until Feb. 12.

Manitoba roots go deep for Swiss sensation

Mike McIntyre 8 minute read Preview

Manitoba roots go deep for Swiss sensation

Mike McIntyre 8 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 10:29 AM CST

MILAN — Her birth certificate may say Switzerland, but make no mistake: Olympic speed skater Kaitlyn McGregor’s roots are firmly planted in Manitoba.

For starters, there’s the strong family connection. Her parents, Mark and Faye, hail from MacGregor, a small farming community about 130 kilometres west of Winnipeg. Aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents are there as well. Yes, the McGregors have heard the jokes. No, the town isn’t named after them.

But secondly — and arguably more importantly — McGregor’s inspiration to reach this grand sporting stage can be traced directly to Winnipegger Cindy Klassen.

Remember the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, when Klassen set a Canadian Olympic record by winning five medals? McGregor certainly does, albeit from after the fact. She was 12 at the time, and it was that epic performance — brought to her attention by her grandmother through Free Press newspaper articles — that ultimately lit the fire.

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Updated: Yesterday at 10:29 AM CST

MIKE MCINTYRE / FREE PRESS
Switzerland’s Kaitlyn McGregor credits her grandmother mailing her Free Press newspaper clippings of Winnipeg’s Cindy Klassen’s historic 2006 Turin Games run as inspiring her long track speed skating career.

Canadian speedskater Maltais wins bronze in the women’s 3,000 in Milan

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Canadian speedskater Maltais wins bronze in the women’s 3,000 in Milan

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Updated: 12:02 PM CST

MILAN - Canada has its first medal at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.

Valérie Maltais of La Baie, Que., won bronze in the women’s 3,000-metre speedskating event Saturday with a time of three minutes 56.93 seconds, marking her first individual Olympic medal.

Italy’s Francesca Lollobrigida won gold on home soil in an Olympic-record 3:54.28, while Norway’s Ragne Wiklund took silver in 3:56.54.

It was Italy’s first gold medal of the Milan Cortina Games.

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Updated: 12:02 PM CST

Valerie Maltais of Canada competes during the women's 3000 metres at the World Cup speedskating event in Inzell Germany, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

ROB BLANCHARD / CURLING CANADA FILES
Oakbank’s own Greg Ewasko is a deputy chief ice technician for curling at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Games, one of the official ice makers of the Olympic pebble.

‘Top of the mountain’

Oakbank’s Ewasko sees his pebbled ice shine as curling kicks off Oly action

Mike McIntyre 7 minute read Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026

Five things to watch at the Milan Cortina Games on Sunday, Feb. 8

The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Five things to watch at the Milan Cortina Games on Sunday, Feb. 8

The Canadian Press 3 minute read 10:19 AM CST

MILAN - From the first trip to the podium for figure skaters to crunch time for Canada's mixed doubles curlers, here are five things to look out for at the Milan Cortina Olympics on Sunday, Feb. 8:

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CURLING CRUNCH

Canada's Brett Gallant and Jocelyn Peterman are looking for a couple of wins to solidify their mixed curling playoff chances. The husband-and-wife team from Chestermere, Alta., take on Sweden and South Korea on Sunday before finishing the preliminary round against Switzerland on Monday. The top-four teams advance to the playoffs.

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10:19 AM CST

Canada's Jocelyn Peterman shakes hands with Britain's Bruce Mouat during the mixed doubles round robin phase of the curling competition at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)

Canadian athletes careful of norovirus in Milan athletes’ village

The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Canadian athletes careful of norovirus in Milan athletes’ village

The Canadian Press 3 minute read 8:40 AM CST

MILAN - Be wary of the salad dressing bottle.

That's among the advice given to the Canadian women's hockey team to avoid the norovirus that has made news in their sport early in the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.

Canada's opening game Thursday against Finland was postponed to Feb. 12 because of a norovirus outbreak among the Finns.

One Swiss player also isolated with the stomach virus, but Canada's game Saturday night against Switzerland was expected to be played.

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8:40 AM CST

The Olympic cauldron designed by Marco Balich during the Olympic opening ceremony at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. (Stefano Rellandini/Pool Photo via AP)

Here’s the latest on Day 1 of the Milan Cortina Olympics as medal hunt gets underway

The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Here’s the latest on Day 1 of the Milan Cortina Olympics as medal hunt gets underway

The Canadian Press 5 minute read Updated: 12:11 PM CST

It's the first full day of competition at the Milan Cortina Olympics, following Friday's opening ceremony.

Here are the latest developments. All times Eastern.

1:05 p.m.

Canada's mixed doubles curling match against Estonia is now underway in Cortina.

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Updated: 12:11 PM CST

Canada's James Crawford speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's downhill race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Bormio, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Maltais reaches podium; Canada’s women’s hockey team set to open Olympic defence

The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Maltais reaches podium; Canada’s women’s hockey team set to open Olympic defence

The Canadian Press 4 minute read Updated: 12:20 PM CST

MILAN - Speedskater Valérie Maltais is the first Canadian to reach the podium at the Milan Cortina Games, winning a bronze medal in the women's 3,000 metres.

Maltais, of La Baie, Que., had a time of three minutes 56.93 seconds Saturday, while Italy's Francesca Lollobrigida took the gold on home soil with an Olympic record time of 3:54.28. Ragne Wiklund of Norway was second in 3:56.54.

"Deep down, I was believing in me. I was believing I had something a little more," said the 35-year-old Maltais, who picked up her first individual Olympic medal. She was part of Canada's championship pursuit team at the 2022 Beijing Games.

"After 2022, I went into this phase where I told myself I would keep going only if I felt I could win an individual medal," Maltais said. "I gave myself two years to really commit, to train hard and focus on the 3,000 metres. Two years ago, I think I had one of my best individual seasons.

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Updated: 12:20 PM CST

Daryl Watts of Canada, down, celebrates with teammates after scoring her sides fourth goal during the semi final match between Canada and Finland at the Women's Ice Hockey Championships in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic, Saturday, April 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Notable quotes from the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics: Feb. 6, 2026

The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Notable quotes from the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics: Feb. 6, 2026

The Canadian Press 3 minute read Yesterday at 2:04 PM CST

MILAN - Here are some notable quotes from the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics on Feb. 6, 2026.

"That was probably the loudest we've seen it, so maybe a little surprising for a morning game, but it was a lot of fun. It really forced us to use our hand signals and make sure that we were communicating as best we could."

— Canadian mixed doubles curler Jocelyn Peterman on the atmosphere at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium during her team's 7-5 loss to the United States.

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Yesterday at 2:04 PM CST

Canada's Jocelyn Peterman in action during the mixed doubles round robin phase of the curling competition against the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)

Italians collect medals on a feel-good first day for the hosts at the Milan Cortina Olympics

Ken Maguire, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Italians collect medals on a feel-good first day for the hosts at the Milan Cortina Olympics

Ken Maguire, The Associated Press 4 minute read Updated: 12:23 PM CST

MILAN (AP) — Francesca Lollobrigida led a tricolor day for Italy at the Milan Cortina Olympics.

The speedskater won gold in the women’s 3,000 meters after Giovanni Franzoni took silver in the men's downhill ahead of Italian teammate Dominik Paris for bronze on the same slope Saturday.

Swiss skier Franjo von Allmen had the honor of winning the first gold medal of the 2026 Games, edging the Italians in Bormio, to kick off the first official day of action at the Winter Olympics.

Lollobrigida wins Italy's 1st gold medal of Milan Cortina Games

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Updated: 12:23 PM CST

Gold medallist Francesca Lollobrigida of Italy celebrates with the Italian flag after the women's 3,000 meters speedskating race at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Tourists stopped from seeing The Last Supper, while Olympic VIPs including Vance visit

María Teresa Hernández, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Tourists stopped from seeing The Last Supper, while Olympic VIPs including Vance visit

María Teresa Hernández, The Associated Press 5 minute read 11:54 AM CST

MILAN (AP) — Tourists to Milan during the Winter Olympics hoping to see Leonardo da Vinci’s “ The Last Supper” were in for an unwelcome surprise: Access to the masterpiece is closed to the public for 3 1/2 days.

The painting, created between 1494 and 1498 by the Italian Renaissance artist, is located on a wall inside the refectory of Santa Maria delle Grazie, a church and Dominican convent still used by friars. It is a major attraction for appreciators of art and devout Catholics alike.

Tourists stuck at the police cordon down the street leading to Santa Maria delle Grazie were disappointed. Antonio Rodríguez, who traveled from Spain with friends, said they would have no other chance to see the painting nor the adjacent church since they only traveled for the weekend.

“We didn’t know we would face this,” said Rodríguez, adding he had no plans to attend events related to the Games. "We would have gone somewhere else in the city.”

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11:54 AM CST

One Extraordinary Photo: Capturing the moment the Olympic cauldron was lit in Milan

Bernat Armangue, The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

One Extraordinary Photo: Capturing the moment the Olympic cauldron was lit in Milan

Bernat Armangue, The Associated Press 2 minute read 11:24 AM CST

MILAN (AP) — Bernat Armangue is based in Madrid and has worked for The Associated Press for 20 years, covering news and sports across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Here’s what he had to say about this extraordinary photo.

Why this photo?

When the Olympic flame lights up the cauldron, the Games are said to begin. Athletes will compete for days in their arenas, yet the competition began years earlier when they chose to challenge themselves. And it does not end when the cauldron flame dies out, since life goes on and brings with it new challenges.

Fire is hypnotic. You can stare at it, trying to read its movements, only for it to surprise you again and again. Perhaps that is why we cannot look away.

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11:24 AM CST

Italian former skier Deborah Compagnoni and Italian former skier Alberto Tomba light the cauldron at the Arco della Pace during the Olympic opening ceremony at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Cortina’s curling darling Stefania Constantini is the focus of Italian fans in bid to advance

Julia Frankel, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Cortina’s curling darling Stefania Constantini is the focus of Italian fans in bid to advance

Julia Frankel, The Associated Press 4 minute read 11:24 AM CST

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO (AP) — There are four matches happening at once in Cortina's curling stadium, yet you’d hardly know it. All attention in the venue seems trained on young, high-ponytailed Stefania Constantini, the defending gold medalist who hails from Cortina and is battling for a spot in the next round of the competition.

Even with top contenders — the U.S. and Great Britain — broom to broom, Italian fans are dominating this arena. The crowds are chanting “Italia, Italia, Italia!," putting American and British contingents to shame. They're banging on the wooden barristers, sending reverberations ricocheting across the arena. With a tiny wave of her hand, the 26-year-old Constantini sends them into crazy cheers.

Constantini grew up in this tiny Tyrolean town, training on courts nestled between the high peaks of the Dolomites.

After her win with partner Amos Mosaner, from northern Italy, in Beijing 2022, these Olympics are widely seen as her chance to prove Italy's dominance in the event. But the team's on shaky ground in the standings after losing to the Swedes on Saturday and the Canadians a day earlier. The latest loss knocked the pair out of the top four. They need to avoid racking up more missteps if they hope to advance out of the round robin phase and qualify for the playoffs.

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11:24 AM CST

February 7, 2026

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