It feels like just yesterday that we were cheering on Canada’s summer athletes in Tokyo. Well, dust off your noise-makers, the 2022 Winter Olympics kick-off Friday, Feb. 4 in Beijiing and run until Feb. 20. The Paralympics take place soon after, running from March 4 to 14.
Canada is sending 215 athletes as part of its Olympic delegation and will be led into the opening ceremony by veteran speedskater Charles Hamelin, who is attending his fifth Games, and hockey player Marie-Philip Poulin at her fourth Olympics.
We’ve put together a list of athletes to keep an eye on during the Games thanks to some help from CSI Calgary, CSI Ontario and CSI Pacific. Watch for our ‘Who to Watch at the Paralympics’ next month!
GO CANADA GO!
Alpine Skiing
When to watch: Feb. 4-17, Feb. 19
Broderick Thompson
Hometown: Whistler, B.C.
Biathlon
When to watch: Feb. 5, Feb. 7-8, Feb. 11-13, Feb. 15-16, Feb. 18-19
Megan Bankes
Hometown: Calgary, Alta.
Adam Runnalls
Hometown: Calgary, Alta.
Christian Gow
Hometown: Calgary, Alta.
Scott Gow
Hometown: Calgary, Alta.
Bobsleigh
When to watch: Feb. 10-20
Cynthia Appiah
Hometown: Toronto, Ont.
Justin Kripps
Hometown: Summerland, B.C. (currently lives in Calgary, Alta.)
Chris Spring
Hometown: Priddis, Alta.
Cross-country Skiing
When to watch: Feb. 5-6, Feb. 8, Feb. 10-13, Feb. 16, Feb. 19-20
Dahria Beatty
Hometown: Whitehorse, Yukon
Curling
When to watch: Feb. 2-20 (mixed curling medals are awarded Feb. 8)
Rachel Homan and John Morris
Hometown: Ottawa, Ont. (John and Rachel), but both live in Alberta
Figure Skating
When to watch: Feb. 4, Feb. 6-8, Feb. 10, Feb. 12, Feb. 14-15, Feb. 17-19
Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier (Ice Dance)
Hometown: Toronto, Ont. (Piper) and Unionville, Ont. (Paul)
Madeline Schizas (Women’s)
Hometown: Oakville, Ont.
Freestyle Skiing
When to watch: Feb. 3, Feb. 5-10, Feb. 13-19
Noah Bowman (Halfpipe)
Hometown: Calgary, Alta.
Simon D’Artois (Halfpipe)
Hometown: Whistler, B.C.
Rachael Karker (Halfpipe)
Hometown: Erin, Ont.
Mikaël Kingsbury (Moguls)
Hometown: Deux-Montagnes, Que.
Megan Oldham (Slopestyle & Big Air)
Hometown: Parry Sound, Ont.
Cassie Sharpe (Halfpipe)
Hometown: Comox, B.C.
Luge
When to watch: Feb. 2-10
Trinity Ellis
Hometown: Pemberton, B.C.
Justin Snith and Tristan Walker
Hometown: Calgary, Alta. (Justin) and Cochrane, Alta. (Tristan)
Reid Watts
Hometown: Whistler, B.C.
Short Track Speed Skating
When to watch: Feb. 5, Feb. 7, Feb. 8, Feb. 11, Feb. 13, Feb. 16
Kim Boutin
Hometown: Sherbrooke, Que.
Charles Hamelin
Hometown: Sainte-Julie, Que.
Skeleton
When to watch: Feb. 7-12
Jane Channell
Hometown: North Vancouver, B.C. (she now lives in Calgary, Alta.)
Blake Enzie
Hometown: Calgary, Alta.
Mirela Rahneva
Hometown: Ottawa, Ont. (she now lives in Calgary, Alta.)
Ski Cross
When to watch: Feb 17(women’s), Feb. 19 (men’s)
Reece Howden
Hometown: Cultus Lake, B.C.
Brady Leman
Hometown: Calgary, Alta.
Brittany Phelan
Hometown: Mont-Tremblant, Que.
Hannah Schmidt
Hometown: Ottawa, Ont.
Marielle Thompson
Hometown: Whistler, B.C.
Ski Jumping
When to watch: Feb. 3-7, Feb. 9-14
Mackenzie Boyd-Clowes
Hometown: Calgary, Alta.
Snowboarding
When to watch: Feb. 5-12, Feb. 14-15
Laurie Blouin (Slopestyle & Big Air)
Hometown: Quebec City, Que.
Brooke D’Hondt (Halfpipe)
Hometown: Calgary, Alta.
Liam Gill (Halfpipe)
Hometown: Calgary, Alta.
Eliot Grondin (Snowboard Cross)
Hometown: Sainte-Marie, Que.
Elizabeth Hosking (Halfpipe)
Hometown: Longeuil, Que.
Mark McMorris (Slopestyle & Big Air)
Hometown: Regina, Sask.
Read IMPACT Magazine’s December 2020 Cover Story: Mark McMorris – The Comeback Kid
Max Parrot (Slopestyle & Big Air)
Hometown: Bromont, Que.
Darcy Sharpe (Slopestyle & Big Air)
Hometown: Comox, B.C.
Speed Skating
When to watch: Feb. 5-8, Feb. 10-13, Feb. 15, Feb. 17-19
Ted-Jan Bloemen
Hometown: Calgary, Alta.
Ivanie Blondin
Hometown: Ottawa, Ont.
Laurent Dubreuil
Hometown: Lévis, Que.
Gilmore Junio
Hometown: Calgary, Alta.
Check out the 2014 November/December edition of IMPACT for a story about Junio.
Women’s Hockey Team
When to watch: Feb. 3-20; medal events are Feb. 16-17
https://www.instagram.com/teamcanada/
Lead photo: Team Canada freestyle skier Sofiane Gagnon competes in round one of Women’s Moguls Qualification during the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games on Thursday, February 03, 2022. Photo by Darren Calabrese/COC
