Valérie Maltais Delivers Canada’s First Medal at Milano Cortina 2026
Canada is on the medal board at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and the moment belongs to Valérie Maltais. On the very first day of competition, the veteran speed skater powered her way to a bronze medal in the women’s 3000 meters, securing Canada’s first podium finish of these Games and setting the tone for what could be a defining Olympic campaign.
This was not just another medal. This was a statement. At 35 years old, Maltais delivered under pressure, skating with control, grit and experience against one of the deepest long track fields in the world. The race demanded endurance, precision and mental strength and Maltais showed all three, crossing the line with a performance that held up when it mattered most.
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What makes this achievement even more significant is the journey behind it. These are Maltais’ fifth Olympic Games. Her Olympic story began in short track, where she earned a relay silver medal at Sochi 2014. Years later, she made the difficult transition to long track, a move that requires a completely different rhythm, strategy and physical demand. That gamble paid off at Beijing 2022 with a team pursuit gold medal and now in Milano Cortina, she has added her first individual Olympic medal to her résumé.
For Team Canada, this bronze medal carries real weight. Early medals bring belief. They calm nerves in the athlete village. They send a signal to rivals. And they remind fans back home that the Games have truly begun. Maltais delivered that spark and she did it in one of the sport’s most punishing events.
Her success also highlights the value of experience at the Olympic level. In a competition where fractions of a second define careers, Maltais leaned on years of racing, setbacks, adjustments and resilience. This was not just about speed. This was about knowing how to race when everything is on the line.
As the Games continue, Canada will look to build momentum across multiple sports, but this opening chapter will be remembered. The first medal always is. And for Valérie Maltais, this bronze is more than a podium finish. It is proof that longevity, adaptation and belief still win at the highest level.
Stay with us as Milano Cortina 2026 unfolds and keep watching for the stories, the pressure moments and the performances that define the Olympic Games.
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