Excellence in Motion

Canada took centre ice as the Winter Games came to Calgary in 1988. With the world watching, our speed skaters delivered grit and glory. Gaétan Boucher, the face of Canadian speed skating, helped inspire a packed Olympic Oval and a nation of fans. Though no medals were won in speed skating that year, the legacy was lit: world-class facilities, future champions, and a fire that fueled decades of Olympic dreams. Calgary 1988 wasn’t just about results—it was about redefining the race.

Built for the 1988 Olympic Winter Games, the Olympic Oval is a marvel of design, precision, and ambition. Spanning over 26,000 square metres—roughly eight acres—it is a cathedral of speed and strength, crowned by a soaring ceiling nearly 26 metres high.

At its heart lies a 400-metre ice surface that maintains pinpoint control of temperature and humidity, creating ideal conditions for record-breaking speed. This main track is joined by two additional international-sized ice surfaces, forming a versatile training ground for skaters, athletes, and champions alike.

Beyond the ice, the Oval houses a 450-metre two-lane running track, a 110-metre eight-lane sprint zone, a long jump pit, a pole vault box, and a high-performance weight room—making it a hub for multi-sport excellence. Designed to welcome the world, the venue features 2,500 permanent seats, expandable to 6,500 with temporary seating for major events.

Constructed at a cost of $39.9 million CAD ($109.8 million CAD today), the Oval wasn’t just a venue—it was a vision. It became the global blueprint for Olympic ice speed tracks and a launchpad for Canada’s enduring dominance in speed skating. For over three decades, the Olympic Oval has stood as both a historic landmark and a living engine of high-performance sport.

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.

🇨🇦 Canadian Medals Total:

🥇 x 0
🥈 x 2
🥉 x 3

🇨🇦 Oval Trained Medals Total:

🥇 x 0
🥈 x 0
🥉 x 0

The Calgary 1988 Olympic torch features a maple wood handle symbolizing Canada's natural beauty and national pride. Its sleek aluminum body reflects modern innovation, strength, and resilience—hallmarks of both Canadian identity and Olympic spirit. Inspired by the sweeping lines of a ski trail and the upward motion of flame, the torch’s design unites movement with meaning. Created by Canadian designer Georges Huel in collaboration with graphic artist Michel Dallaire, it embodies Canada’s blend of nature, progress, and unity. Notably, it was the first Olympic torch to incorporate a computerized fuel regulation system—ensuring the flame could endure even the harshest winter elements on its journey through the Canadian Rockies.

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.

Canadian 🇨🇦 Medals Total:
🥇 x 2
🥈 x 3
🥉 x 2

Oval Trained 🇨🇦 Medalists
🥇 x 0
🥈 x 0
🥉 x 0

The Albertville 1992 Olympic torch blends tradition and innovation. Its brushed steel top reflects the elegance of French industrial design, while the curved shape symbolizes forward motion. The sleek, modernist design resembles a bull’s horn or flame when turned upside down. Designed by Philippe Starck and familiarly known as ‘La Corne’ or ‘The Horn’, it is one of the rarest and most sought-after torches of the last thirty years.

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.

Canadian 🇨🇦 Medals Total:

🥇 x 3
🥈 x 6
🥉 x 4

Oval Trained 🇨🇦 Medals Total:

🥇 x 0
🥈 x 1 (Susan Auch, Women’s 500m)
🥉 x 0

The Lillehammer 1994 Olympic torch features a long birchwood handle symbolizing Norway’s natural heritage and Nordic tradition. Its sleek, polished aluminum blade represents modernity and innovation. Inspired by Viking seafaring tools and winter's elemental beauty, the design bridges past and present. Created by industrial designer André M. Andersen, the torch captures Norway’s spirit—resilient, refined, and rooted in nature. Not only is it the longest and thinnest torch in Olympic history, but it is also one of the most coveted by collectors worldwide, admired for its striking design and cultural symbolism.