The 2025/2026 season features 115 athletes (40 Short Track and 75 Long Track). The Programs Team is managed by Jonathan Guilmette, Manager, High-Performance Sport.
OVAL ELITE ATHLETE PATHWAY
The Oval Elite Athlete Pathway is our premier training program for provincial, national, and international-level long and short track speed skaters. Admission is based on recent qualifying performance times by age category. Applicants must be at least 16 years old by the program start date, and meet application deadlines to secure a spot before we reach capacity. For underage athletes, we strongly recommend having a legal guardian based in Calgary.
Training groups are assigned based on performance times, age, ability, specialization, and team dynamics.
For nearly three decades, the Olympic Oval has been a global hub for high-performance speed skating. Launched after the 1988 Winter Olympics, our programs offer world-class coaching and facilities to athletes from around the world—including Canada, the U.S., Netherlands, Japan, Korea, and over 30 other nations.
The Oval’s long and short track programs have produced world record holders, Olympic medallists, and national team athletes. Today, more than 150 skaters train with over 10 elite coaches, making the Oval a leader in athlete development and sport science research.
Olympic Oval
Olympic Oval
Meet the Future of Speed Skating!
Get up close and personal with our rising stars on the Elite Athlete Pathway. Dive into behind-the-scenes videos, epic competition highlights, athlete bios, and fun facts you won’t find anywhere else. Discover the stories, the grit, and the personalities of the skaters chasing Olympic dreams—your next favourite athlete is just a click away.
Meet our Short Track Elite Athlete Pathway Skaters.
COMING SOON
Meet our Long Track Elite Athlete Pathway Skaters.
COMING SOON
The Olympic Oval short and long track programs continue to be the leaders in sports development and research. In this program, athletes have had tremendous success in setting world records, winning medals at Olympics, World Championships, World Cups, and qualifying for National teams.
Please note, all applications are subject to approval by the OVAL ELITE ATHLETE PATHWAY Directors. Those who do not meet the requirements are encouraged to contact the Calgary Speed Skating Association or the Calgary Grizzlies. Upon acceptance to the program, athletes must complete a formal application and read and sign an athlete code of conduct agreement that outlines all athletes' accountabilities and responsibilities. All payments received for the OVAL ELITE ATHLETE PATHWAY are NON-REFUNDABLE and due before training begins.
Acceptance into the Short Track Oval Program is based on the Short Track Elite Athlete Pathway Document's specific requirements. This document results from many months of development in consultation with Speed Skating Canada, Oval Programs and the Provincial / Territorial Speed Skating Associations and their member clubs.
We ask that you carefully take the time to read the document to understand where you fit regarding the requirements at the different stages of the pathway.
Acceptance into the Long Track Oval Program is based on specific requirements defined in our Long Track Elite Athlete Pathway Document. This document results from many months of development in consultation with Speed Skating Canada, Oval Programs and the Provincial / Territorial Speed Skating Associations and their member clubs.
We ask that you carefully take the time to read the document to understand where you fit regarding the requirements at the different stages of the pathway.
If you meet the requirements of the pathway or have any questions regarding the conditions, be sure to contact us as soon as possible to assist in processing your application.
