Thursday was the best day yet for Canadian athletes at Milano Cortina 2026.
Canada’s medal count jumped from four to seven thanks to a trio of medals, but the country is still looking for its first gold to celebrate at this year’s Olympics.
Opening ceremonies flagbearer Mikaël Kingsbury came as close as you can possibly come to gold without topping the podium on Thursday morning. The 33-year-old finished the men’s mogul tied with Australia’s Cooper Woods with a score 83.71. Unfortunately, Woods had a slight edge in the tiebreaker, which left Kingsbury with a silver. Kingsbury now has three Olympic silver medals (2014, 2022, 2026) to go with his gold at PyeongChang 2018.
Testing what dad’s Olympic medal tastes like 😋
— Team Canada (@TeamCanada) February 12, 2026
📸 Darren Calabrese/COC pic.twitter.com/lXLeQtGi2F
Eliot Grondin was also expected to compete for a gold medal for Canada on Thursday in the men’s snowboard cross. He was dealt a very similar fate to Kingsbury, however, finishing just 0.03 seconds behind Austria’s Alessandro Haemmerle for gold. It’s the second straight Olympics those two athletes have finished first and second in the event. Fours years ago, the difference between them in the gold medal race was only 0.02 seconds.
Another silver to be proud of today! 🥈
— Team Canada (@TeamCanada) February 12, 2026
Congratulations, Eliot! 👏 pic.twitter.com/9yVECPVxO3
Canada had a chance to add two more medals in short track speed skating later on in Thursday action. Courtney Sarault delivered with a bronze medal in the women’s 500m, but Will Dandjinou fell short in the men’s 1000m final. Both athletes medalled with the mixed relay team on day four and will have more medal chances in both individual and team events over the coming days.
Courtney Sarault takes home her FIRST Olympic medal in the 500 m short track speed skating and her SECOND medal of Milano Cortina 2026!✨🥉
— Team Canada (@TeamCanada) February 12, 2026
📸 Leah Hennel/COC pic.twitter.com/L1LBvG9x5d
It was a big day for Canadian teams at the 2026 Games as well. Rachel Homan’s rink began their Olympics with a win over Denmark. The Canadian women’s hockey team rebounded from a loss to the United States with a big win over Finland to finish the round robin. The Canadian men started their round robin with an impressive win over Czechia.
Action from Team Canada’s men’s hockey first game! 🏒
— Team Canada (@TeamCanada) February 12, 2026
📸 Leah Hennel/COC pic.twitter.com/95m3q4rn61
Canada’s best chance at another medal in Italy on Friday will be Ted-Jan Bloemen in the men’s 10,000m long track speed skating. There will also be Canadian athletes competing in women’s snowboard cross, men’s cross country and men’s biathlon. Both Homan and Brad Jacobs will be back in action at the curling rink, while the Canadian men’s hockey team will take on Switzerland in their second game of the round robin.
