Charlottetown 
Two familiar faces will lead Team Canada into the Opening Ceremony at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.
Credit: 2026 Canadian Olympic Committee
Moguls standout Mikaël Kingsbury and ski cross veteran Marielle Thompson have been chosen as Canada’s flag bearers, a role reserved for athletes whose careers reflect both excellence and longevity. For each, these Games will mark a fourth Olympic appearance.
Their résumés help explain the choice. Kingsbury enters the Games as the most decorated male moguls skier in Olympic history, with medals from three straight Games and a recent milestone of 100 career World Cup victories. Thompson, meanwhile, has been a constant presence on the Olympic podium since ski cross debuted in 2010, earning medals in two of her three appearances and ranking among the most successful athletes in the sport’s World Cup history.
Both athletes arrive in Italy after navigating injuries during the current season, adding another layer to their Olympic build-up. Thompson returned to racing in December following knee surgery, while Kingsbury managed his own setbacks before rounding into form on home snow in Quebec.
Thompson described the honour as something that hadn’t fully registered yet, noting how carrying the flag has long represented a kind of pinnacle moment for Canadian Olympians. Kingsbury echoed that sentiment, pointing to the legacy of athletes who have held the role before and calling the selection one of the proudest moments of his career.
When the Opening Ceremony begins on February 6, the moment will be shared. Because events are spread across northern Italy, Kingsbury and Thompson will lead Canada’s delegation in Livigno, one of several parade locations tied to the Games’ unique geography.
