Canada mixed doubles curlers eliminated, Crosby named captain at Milan Cortina Games

Gallant and Peterman finish their run at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium on Sunday against Switzerland.

Team Canada’s hopes for a medal Sunday also took a hit in figure skating after placing fifth in the team event. Pairs skaters Lia Pereira, of Milton, Ont., and Trennt Michaud, of Trenton, Ont., shattered their personal-best score with a stellar performance in the team event, but still finished fifth in the pairs free program.

The first-time Olympians scored 134.42 points to music from the film “Gladiator,” a revived routine from the 2023-24 season, pumping their fists in joy at Milano Ice Skating Arena after nailing every element except their throw triple loop.

Madeline Schizas of Oakville, Ont., followed with a fifth-place finish in the women’s free program as Canada fell to fifth place with 47 points — five behind third-place Italy. Schizas scored 125.00 after falling on a triple lutz to open her “Butterfly Lovers” program.

Toronto’s Stephen Gogolev placed fourth in the men’s free program with a score of 171.93 in an outstanding performance, giving the team a total of 54 points. But it wasn’t enough to get the Canadians to the podium, after the U.S. claimed gold with 69 points, followed by Japan and Italy.

Meanwhile, Canada also missed the podium in the women’s big air snowboarding event on Sunday. With the top 12 of the qualifying round advancing to Monday’s finals, Laurie Blouin finished 14th with a score of 150.25 and Juliette Pelchat placed 16th with 148.00.

In hockey, Sidney Crosby was named the captain of the Canadian men’s team.

Defenceman Cale Makar and forward Connor McDavid will serve as alternate captains.

The team hits the ice today for their first official practice ahead of their tournament opener Feb. 12 against Czechia.

Elsewhere on the ice, Calgary speedskater Ted-Jan Bloemen fell short of the podium in the men’s 5,000 metres, finishing 13th place with a time of six minutes, 17.97 seconds. Norway’s Sander Eitrem won in an Olympic-record time of 6:03.95, followed by Metodej Jilek of Czechia (6:06.48) and Italy’s Riccardo Lorello (6:09.22).

All eyes were on American star Lindsey Vonn in the women’s downhill in Cortina, nine days after tearing the ACL in her left knee and racing with a heavy brace. But the 41-year-old crashed badly and was taken off the course in a helicopter.

Vonn had been chasing another Olympic medal against a deep field. American Breezy Johnson won the event ahead of Germany’s Emma Aicher and Italy’s Sofia Goggia.

Cassidy Gray, of Invermere, B.C., was the top Canadian in 26th place. Valérie Grenier, of St-Isidore, Ont., was disqualified after she originally finished her run sitting 17th with several skiers left to go.

Xavier McKeever of Canmore, Alta., finished 13th in the men’s skiathlon.

There was heartbreak for Canadian snowboarder Arnaud Gaudet, who missed out on the parallel giant slalom semifinal by three one-hundredths of a second to Bulgarian Tervel Zamfirov.

Norway leads the medal table thanks to three gold medals as part of its six total. The United States is second with its only two medals being gold and host Italy is tied for third with one gold, although it has the most total medals with nine.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 8, 2026.

The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

Canada mixed doubles curlers eliminated, Crosby named captain at Milan Cortina Games

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