Canada’s snowboard cross team for the upcoming Milano-Cortina Games is headlined by Olympic medallists Éliot Grondin and Meryeta O’Dine. The announcement of the 13 snowboard cross, half pipe, and parallel giant slalom athletes representing Canada was made jointly by Canada Snowboard and the Canadian Olympic Committee.
Grondin, hailing from Sainte-Marie, Que., is the current men’s snowboard cross world champion and a two-time World Cup Crystal Globe winner. He clinched a silver medal at the 2022 Beijing Games. O’Dine, from Prince George, B.C., secured a bronze in the women’s event and later teamed up with Grondin to win a bronze in the mixed team event.
Expressing gratitude, Grondin stated, “I am honoured to be selected for the Canadian team for the third time. It’s always a privilege to represent Canada at the Olympic Games when the spotlight is on us. My focus is on enjoying the moment and having fun during each run. I believe that by doing so, I stand a good chance of winning a medal.”
Joining Grondin and O’Dine in snowboard cross are Liam Moffat, Evan Bichon, Tess Critchlow, and Audrey McManiman. In snowboard halfpipe, Elizabeth Hosking, who recently won a World Cup gold in Calgary, will lead the team alongside Brooke D’Hondt and Felicity Geremia.
The snowboard events, including parallel giant slalom and halfpipe, are scheduled to take place at the Livigno Snow Park. The individual snowboard cross competitions will unfold on February 12 and 13, with the mixed team event set for February 15.
In biathlon, seven out of eight athletes on Canada’s team will make their Olympic debut at the Milano-Cortina Winter Games. Adam Runnalls, with prior Olympic experience from Beijing 2022, will lead the biathlon team. The biathlon events will be held at the Ansterselva Biathlon Arena.
Canada has a history of three Olympic biathlon medals, all won by Myriam Bedard in 1992 and 1994. The team is set to be coached by Andrew Chisolm and Helene Jorgensen, with support from five wax technicians.
Excited about the upcoming challenge, Runnalls emphasized, “The race venue holds a special place for me, and I am eager to give my best performance. I have been working towards this moment throughout my career, and I am ready to put everything on the line.”