CALGARY — Canada’s ski jumping contingent for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games is set, with a four-athlete roster featuring a mix of Olympic experience, recent podium form and two first-time Olympians.
Ski Jumping Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee announced Monday that Mackenzie Boyd-Clowes, Natalie Eilers, Nicole Maurer and Abigail Strate have been selected to represent Canada in Italy. The athletes earned their places through performances during the Olympic qualification window.
All four athletes are based in Calgary, underscoring the city’s long-standing role as the hub of Canada’s ski jumping program. Boyd-Clowes and Strate return to the Games as Olympic medallists, while Maurer and Eilers are set to make their Olympic debuts.
Boyd-Clowes, 34, will be the headline name on the roster as he prepares for his fifth Olympic appearance — a milestone that will make him Canada’s first five-time Olympian in ski jumping. The veteran returns to the Olympic stage after stepping away from international competition for two and a half years, a break that makes his qualification for 2026 a notable comeback story for the national program.
“I never thought I would be able to call myself a five-time Olympian. Coming from our small club in Calgary this opportunity means a lot to me. I feel like I’ve gotten the chance to represent a big community of past, present and future ski jumpers and all of the people who work so hard to keep the sport in Canada alive,” said Boyd-Clowes. “After taking a few years off competing, I’m definitely approaching these Games with a bit of a different mindset, but I’m grateful to get to go and be there with my teammates and coaches to represent Canada again.”
Boyd-Clowes last competed at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, where he and Strate helped deliver a breakthrough moment for the sport in Canada. The pair were part of the Canadian team that won bronze in the inaugural Olympic mixed team event, securing the country’s first-ever Olympic medal in ski jumping.
Strate, 24, is heading to her second Olympic Winter Games following a strong stretch of results across the past year. She notched her first career FIS World Cup victory this winter and added two silver medals on the top international circuit, building momentum ahead of the Games.
Her lead-up to Milano Cortina also included a standout summer on the Grand Prix tour, where she reached the podium in all five events she entered. That run included victories in Courchevel, France, and at the Olympic test event in September in Val di Fiemme, giving Strate a measure of familiarity with Italian venues and conditions.
“I am incredibly honoured to be named to the 2026 Olympic Team. It is always an honour to represent Canada and even more so when it is magnified on the biggest stage in the world against the best-of-the-best,” said Strate. “I’m really looking forward to having my family there cheering me on this time. I have some big goals going into these Games, but I am really confident with all of the work that I have put in over the last four years. We have an incredible support staff and team that have each other’s backs heading to Italy. There is magic in the air at the Olympics and I am so excited to see Natalie and Nicole get their first Games experience.”
Milano Cortina 2026 will also expand Strate’s Olympic opportunities, as the women’s large hill event is set to make its Olympic debut. Canadian ski jumpers will compete in both the normal hill and large hill events at the Games.
Maurer and Eilers will both make their first Olympic appearances in Italy, marking a significant step for the next wave of Canadian ski jumping athletes.
Maurer, described as an aspiring astronaut, has steadily moved up the international ranks and has regularly reached the top 30 on the World Cup circuit, a benchmark that reflects consistent competitiveness at the elite level.
“After 20 years of chasing the Olympic dream, it is finally becoming a reality,” said Maurer. “Representing Canada on the world stage has always been something that I’ve appreciated, but knowing I’m doing it under the global spotlight at the Games is a dream come true.”
Eilers’ selection follows a return from a year-long knee injury that sidelined her from competition, testing her ability to re-enter the sport at the highest level. She relocated to Slovenia with her Canadian teammates to live and train, and made a successful comeback to the World Cup this season.
The announcement was also welcomed by Team Canada’s leadership group for Milano Cortina, which will oversee the broader Canadian delegation at the Games.
“Congratulations to our Olympic ski jumping team, who will wear the maple leaf as you soar through the air in Italy,” said Jennifer Heil, Team Canada’s Milano Cortina 2026 Chef de Mission. “With an exciting mix of rookies and Olympic veterans—including Olympic medallists and a soon-to-be five-time Olympian—Canadians, including myself, can’t wait to watch you fly.”
Before athletes are officially named to Team Canada, all nominations remain subject to approval by the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Team Selection Committee after receiving nominations from national sport organizations.
Ski Jumping Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee also encouraged fans to engage with the team through Team Canada FanFest, which is returning for Milano Cortina 2026. Organizers said the event will offer an immersive experience for Canadians to celebrate and support athletes representing the country in Italy, with updates available through Team Canada’s social media channels.
