The 24th Winter Olympics are underway in Beijing, and with 215 athletes, Canada has sent an impressive roster. Team Canada has no shortage of talent, so much so that it might be difficult to know where to start. Here are 10 Canadian athletes you should check out during the Games.
1. Sarah Fillier
Hockey
A 21-year-old from Georgetown, Ontario, Sarah Fillier is playing in her first Olympic Games this year. Fillier made a splash at the 2021 World Championship Tournament and is already making quite the name for herself in the early matches in Beijing. After just two games, she has scored four goals, two of which were within the first two minutes of play. Increasingly denoted the future of Canadian Hockey, you can be sure that you’ll be hearing her name for years to come.
2. Marc McMorris
Slopestyle and Big Air Snowboarding
A 28-year-old from Regina, Saskatchewan, Marc McMorris always puts on a show. Just before the 2018 Olympics, McMorris suffered a near-fatal injury and was off the slopes for a number of months, but that did not slow him down. As the winner of two bronze medals at the 2018 Games and 20 X Games medals, he was the first snowboarder to land a backside triple cork 1440. McMorris is coming into these Games on the hunt for a podium finish, so be sure to watch him throw some crazy tricks on the slopes.
3. Mikaël Kingsbury
Moguls Skiing
A 29-year-old from Deux-Montagnes, Québec, Mikaël Kingsbury won the silver medal in 2014 and the gold in 2018, and is hoping to defend his title in 2022. Always a consistent competitor on the world stage, he is currently the favourite to win, but Walter Wallberg of Sweden is promising to put up a good fight. Be sure to check out men’s moguls to see the showdown between Canada and Sweden’s top skiers.
4.Max Parrot
Slopestyle and Big Air Snowboarding
A 27-year-old from Bromont, Québec, Max Parrot has battled hard to compete alongside McMorris in these 2022 Games. In 2018, he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and after going through chemotherapy, Parrot went on to win the gold medal in Big Air at the following X Games. Just like in 2018, Parrot and McMorris will be competing side by side in these Games as they both vie for a spot on the podium.
5. Brooke D’Hondt
Halfpipe Snowboarding
Hailing from Calgary, Alberta, 16-year-old Brooke D’Hondt is Canada’s youngest athlete in Beijing. D’Hondt competed in her first X Games when she was just 14 and is now making her debut on the Olympic stage. She’ll be going up against her idol, the American Chloe Kim, who is looking to defend the 2018 gold that she won at only 17 years old. Tune in to halfpipe snowboarding to catch a glimpse of the beginning of an illustrious career.
6. Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier
Ice Dance
Both hailing from the Greater Toronto Area, Gilles and Poirier have been competing as a pair for over 10 years. Last year marked their first World’s podium finish, where they took home the bronze. They’re hoping to do the same in Beijing as they face tough competition for that third-place spot, but even if they don’t clinch a podium finish, their routines are guaranteed to be high energy and entertaining.
7. Charles Hamelin
Short-Track Speed Skating
A 37-year-old from Sainte-Julie, Québec, Charles Hamelin is competing in his fifth Olympic Games. Canada marked this accomplishment by bestowing upon him the honour of being named one of the flag bearers in the opening ceremonies. He is the world champion in the 1500m and will also be competing in the 5000m relay; with 5 Olympic medals already secured, he’ll be hoping to bring home even more hardware. Following these Games, Hamelin will be retiring, so be sure to watch the Canadian icon compete for the last time in Beijing 2022.
8. Cynthia Appiah
Bobsled
A 31-year-old from Toronto, Ontario, Cynthia Appiah will be Canada’s first athlete to compete in the new monobob event that’s making its Olympic debut in Beijing. While Appiah may not have been competing in bobsleigh for very long, she made use of this past season to prove her dominance in the sport. She ranks third in the overall standings and since 2021, has not placed lower than fifth. The inclusion of monobob at these Olympic Games gives Appiah the chance to bring home her first Olympic medal.
9. Marie-Philip Poulin
Hockey
A 30-year-old from Beauceville, Québec, Marie-Philip Poulin is another Olympic veteran and the second half of Canada’s flag-bearing team in the opening ceremonies. Known by her nickname Captain Clutch, Poulin leads the Canadian women’s team with a wealth of experience. Beijing will mark her fourth Olympic Games, where she will lead her team to try to recapture the gold medal. Having succeeded in doing so during the 2021 World Championships, the camaraderie and skill of this Canadian team – made up of equal parts veterans and first-timers – has made them a force to be reckoned with on the world stage, making this an event you don’t want to miss.
10. Kim Boutin
Short-Track Speedskating
A 27-year-old from Sherbrooke Québec, Kim Boutin is a powerhouse coming into these 2022 Games. Boutin won three medals in 2018, which won her the honour of being the flag bearer at the closing ceremonies; she is a contender to do so again in Beijing. Be sure to watch the short-track speedskating events as Boutin shoots for the podium.