Excellence in Motion

Calgary, Canada 1988: Home Ice, Hero Moments

In 1981, Calgary was awarded the XV Olympic Winter Games—Canada’s first Winter Olympics and a turning point in the city’s identity. The victory launched an unprecedented era of sports development, infrastructure investment, and international attention. Among the boldest of the new legacies: the Olympic Oval. Built on the University of Calgary campus, construction began in 1984 and was completed just in time for the Games in 1988. Known as “The Fastest Ice in the World™,” the Oval became North America’s first fully enclosed long-track speed skating venue.

Albertville, France 1992: The Foundation Was Set 

Albertville may not have delivered podium finishes for Canada’s long track speed skaters, but it marked a turning point for athletes who trained at the Olympic Oval. Just four years after opening its doors, the Oval had already become a high-performance hub, preparing a new generation of Canadian skaters to take on the world.

Our long track team raced with grit, precision, and the unmistakable edge of Oval training. The experience laid critical groundwork for future success—refining technique, sharpening resolve, and igniting Olympic ambitions. Albertville wasn’t the finish line—it was the starting block for what would soon become Canada’s golden era in long track.

Lillehammer, Norway 1994: Cold Ice, Hot Streak

In Lillehammer, Canada’s long track hopes were led by Oval-trained sprinter Susan Auch, who claimed silver in the women’s 500m—Canada’s sole long track speed skating medal of the Games. Her performance was a breakthrough moment for both her and the Olympic Oval, proving that Canada’s fast ice and focused training would produce world-class results.

Auch’s medal not only energized a new wave of Canadian sprinters, but also helped cement the Oval’s reputation as a true engine of Olympic excellence. While short track grabbed headlines, the long game was quietly being won—one stride, one lap, and one medal at a time.

Nagano, Japan 1998: Speed on Snow and Ice

At the Nagano Winter Games, Canada’s long track speed skaters—honed on the fast ice of the Olympic Oval—delivered a breakout performance. Catriona Le May Doan made history by winning gold in the women’s 500m, becoming the first Canadian woman to claim Olympic gold in long track speed skating. Right behind her, Susan Auch captured silver, marking a rare and remarkable double podium finish for Canada. 

On the men’s side, Jeremy Wotherspoon burst onto the Olympic scene with silver in the 500m, while Kevin Overland (Crockett) raced to bronze in the 1000m, rounding out four long track medals for athletes shaped by Oval ice. 

Nagano also marked a milestone in short track: Derrick Campbell became the first short track skater trained at the Olympic Oval to win an Olympic medal, helping Canada secure gold in the men’s 5000m relay. His victory signaled a new era—where the Oval’s influence extended across both speed skating disciplines.

From sprints to relay glory, Nagano confirmed the Oval’s status not just as a training ground—but as a launchpad for Olympic legends.  

Salt Lake City, USA 2002: Golden Speed and Bronze Breakthroughs

At the 2002 Winter Olympics, Oval-trained athletes delivered iconic performances in Salt Lake City. Catriona Le May Doan defended her Olympic title in the women’s 500m, becoming the first Canadian to win back-to-back golds in the same event. Cindy Klassen captured her first Olympic medal—a bronze in the 3000m—while Clara Hughes, in her long track debut, added another bronze in the 5000m, marking a triumphant crossover from cycling to skating.

The Games also marked a breakthrough for Canadian short track. Tania Vicent and Alanna Kraus, both trained at the Olympic Oval, stood on the podium with bronze in the women’s 3000m relay—Canada’s rising force in the sport.

Torino, Italy 2006: A Golden Era

At the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Canada’s long track speed skaters—many shaped by the Olympic Oval in Calgary—delivered one of the most dominant performances in the nation’s history. Cindy Klassen became a Canadian icon, winning five medals (1 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze) and setting the national record for most medals at a single Winter Games.

Clara Hughes powered to gold in the 5000m and added silver in the women’s team pursuit alongside Cindy Klassen, Kristina Groves, Shannon Rempel, and Christine Nesbitt. Groves also secured an individual silver in the 1500m, underscoring the strength of Canada’s women on the world stage.

On the men’s side, the team pursuit squad—Steven Elm, Arne Dankers, Jason Parker, Justin Warsylewicz, and Denny Morrison—captured silver, further proving the Oval and Canada’s depth of talent.

In short track, Tania Vicent and Alanna Kraus returned to the Olympic podium, earning silver in the women’s 3000m relay—showing that Oval excellence spanned both disciplines.

With 8 long track medals and a short track silver, Torino wasn’t just a high point for Oval-trained Olympians—it was a historic peak. A Games where endurance met execution, and the Olympic Oval’s legacy blazed brighter than ever.

Vancouver, Canada 2010: Fast Ice, Home Glory

At the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games, Canada’s Olympic Oval-trained speed skaters shone brightly under the weight of home-country pressure—delivering power, poise, and podiums. Christine Nesbitt claimed gold in the women’s 1000m, continuing Canada’s sprinting legacy on the long track. Kristina Groves added to her already impressive Olympic résumé with silver in the 1500m and bronze in the 3000m, while Clara Hughes, in her final Olympic appearance, secured bronze in the 5000m—bringing her career total to six medals.

The men’s long track team also reached the podium, with Denny Morrison, Lucas Makowsky, and Mathieu Giroux winning gold in the team pursuit, a dominant performance that capped off Canada’s long track campaign with pride.

On the short track, Tania Vicent made history once again, earning silver in the women’s 3000m relay, her fourth consecutive Olympic medal—a record of longevity and excellence. She was joined on the podium by Jessica Gregg, another Olympic Oval-trained skater making her Olympic debut.

Vancouver wasn’t just a celebration of Canadian sport—it was a homecoming for the Oval. A Games where athletes trained on Calgary ice turned national expectations into unforgettable triumphs.

Sochi, Russia 2014: Power, Precision, Podium

In Sochi, Canada’s long track speed skaters once again proved the legacy of the Olympic Oval, carving out key moments of pride on the Adler Arena ice. Denny Morrison, one of Canada’s most decorated Oval-trained skaters, delivered a stunning performance—winning silver in the 1000m and bronze in the 1500m, four years after missing the podium in Vancouver.

That silver almost didn’t happen. In an extraordinary act of sportsmanship, teammate Gilmore Junio voluntarily gave up his spot in the 1000m, believing Morrison had the better shot at a medal. That decision led to one of the most celebrated podium finishes of the Games—and a defining moment of Olympic brotherhood.

On the women’s side, while veterans like Kristina Groves, Christine Nesbitt, and Brittany Schussler had set the tone in previous Games, it was a new generation—Ivanie Blondin, Valérie Maltais, and Brittany Schussler—who skated to a strong fourth-place finish in the team pursuit, just shy of the podium.

While Sochi brought fewer medals than in past Olympics, it underscored the staying power of Oval-trained excellence—and reminded the world that Canada’s speed skaters lead not only with strength, but with heart.

PyeongChang, South Korea 2018: Persistence on Ice

In PyeongChang, Canada’s long track speed skaters once again proved the enduring power of Olympic Oval training. Ted-Jan Bloemen, who quietly honed his craft in Calgary, became a breakout star. He captured silver in the men’s 5000m, then followed it with a breathtaking golden victory in the 10000m, setting a new Olympic record and ending Canada’s 90-year medal drought in the event.

While other skaters came close, Bloemen’s performance stood alone—proof that years of patience, precision, and Oval-forged discipline can deliver history-making results on the world’s biggest stage.

Beijing, China 2022: Ice. Elevation. Redemption.

In Beijing, Canada’s long track speed skaters proved once again that excellence forged at the Olympic Oval can stand up to the world’s best. Isabelle Weidemann led the charge with a performance for the ages—claiming bronze in the 3000m, silver in the 5000m, and anchoring Canada’s gold-medal-winning team pursuit squad alongside Valérie Maltais and Ivanie Blondin. Her three-medal sweep made her the most decorated Canadian athlete of the Games. Their golden run showcased the power of teamwork, strategy, and years of synchronized training on Calgary ice. Blondin also added silver in the mass start, rounding out her Olympic resume with grit and grace.

Beijing was a moment of resurgence—where experience, endurance, and Oval-forged resilience delivered Canada’s strongest long track showing in over a decade.