Canada curlers fight to stay alive as Vonn crashes at Milan Cortina Games

By Canadian Press on February 8, 2026.

MILAN — Canada’s mixed doubles curling team plays two round-robin games today, needing victories to keep its medal-round hopes alive as the Milan Cortina Olympics continue on Day 2.

Brett Gallant and Jocelyn Peterman, a husband-and-wife team from Chestermere, Alta., face Sweden and South Korea after three straight losses dropped them to 3-3, tied for fifth with only the top four advancing.

Meanwhile in Milan, Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, and the rest of Canada’s men’s hockey team hit the ice for their first official practice ahead of their tournament opener Feb. 12 against Czechia.

Speedskating continues today with the men’s 5,000 metres, where Ted-Jan Bloemen is Canada’s skater to watch after winning silver in the event at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games.

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.

Canadian Valérie Grenier of St-Isidore, Ont., was disqualified after she originally finished her run sitting 17th with several skiers left to go.

Elsewhere, Xavier McKeever of Canmore, Alta., finished 13th in the men’s 10km +10km skiathlon.