Warm Welcome for Team Canada

Canada’s Olympic athletes began arriving home Monday, greeted by enthusiastic friends, family, and fans following their participation in the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Games. Approximately 90 of the 207 Canadian athletes marched in the closing ceremony held Sunday in Verona, Italy.

The team secured a total of 21 medals, including five gold, marking a strong performance on the international stage.

Athlete Reactions to Homecoming

At Toronto Pearson airport, about a dozen supporters waved Canadian flags and sought autographs from the returning athletes. Curler Brett Gallant, who won a gold medal as part of Brad Jacobs’ Calgary-based rink, expressed his joy at being back on Canadian soil.

I just experience kind of some of the Canadian pride, some of the excitement that we have been feeling from afar, but now to be home — it’s great, Brett Gallant

Gallant also highlighted the excitement surrounding Canada’s late-Games momentum.

When there was the curling medal round and then the women’s and men’s hockey medal rounds, as Canadians we were pretty excited to watch most of that, Brett Gallant

He acknowledged the increasing competitiveness of the international curling scene, stating, The international curling field has gotten stronger and stronger over the last decade. So It’s tougher now … We are pretty proud of what we accomplished.

Challenges and Successes

Although celebrating the team’s achievements, some athletes also highlighted challenges faced in their preparation. Cynthia Appiah, a member of Canada’s bobsleigh team, spoke about the impact of limited investment in their program.

We haven’t had an investment in our program in four years, and we haven’t had any investment in our sled technology in six years. Cynthia Appiah

Appiah contrasted Canada’s situation with that of competitors like the United States and Germany, who receive more frequent equipment upgrades. When you’re comparing that to the Americans and the Germans, who secure basically sleds every year or every two years, it is really hard to be competitive, she said.

Key Moments and Medalists

Canada’s gold medalists at the Milan Cortina 2026 Games included the men’s curling team, Megan Oldham in freeski big air, Steven Dubois in the 500-metre short-track, and the long-track team pursuit team consisting of Valérie Maltais, Isabelle Weidemann, and Ivanie Blondin.

The men’s hockey team secured a silver medal, falling to the United States 2-1 in the gold medal game.

National Pride and Support

Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed his pride in Team Canada’s performance on social media, stating, Could not be more proud of you, @TeamCanada. You’re coming home with 21 hard-fought Olympic medals. Though what Canadians will remember most is how you wore the Maple Leaf: with pride, with grit and with determination.