Crystal Globe winner leaves behind legacy of leadership and program rebuilding
CALGARY — Canadian skeleton athlete Jane Channell, one of the country’s most accomplished and respected competitors in the sport, has announced her retirement after a 15-year career that included three Olympic appearances, multiple World Cup podiums and a key leadership role in rebuilding Canada’s national skeleton program.
At 37, the North Vancouver native exits the sport as a Crystal Globe winner, four-time World Cup medallist and veteran mentor whose influence extended beyond competition results to shaping the culture and direction of the Canadian program.
“To be inside a highly physically demanding sport for 15 years is a long time and I feel like now is the right time to move on,” said Channell. “Skeleton is my family, and that is why it is difficult to step away and why it has taken me so long to come to terms with doing this. The community that the Canadian program has right now is like nothing else. Through the ups and downs, and all of the support – loud and quiet – it’s been a ride.”
Career built on speed, resilience and international success
Channell’s path to skeleton began after watching the sport become a permanent Olympic event at the Salt Lake City Games in 2002. A former varsity sprinter at Simon Fraser University, she was drawn to the speed and technical precision of head-first sliding and eventually relocated to Whistler, B.C., after graduating in 2011 to pursue the sport full time.
“Looking back on when I first started, I could not have imagined that it could take me to the places it did. I was lost at that time. I was confused and I was likely avoiding the real world,” laughed Channell. “As I reflect on it now, moving up to Whistler to do skeleton, really allowed me to find myself. It gave me closure on things while allowing myself to grow into who I have become today.”
Her progression through the international ranks was swift. Channell captured the North American Cup overall title during the 2012-13 season before advancing to the Intercontinental Cup circuit and making her IBSF World Cup debut the following year.
Her breakthrough came at the 2015 IBSF World Championships, where she narrowly missed a podium finish by six-hundredths of a second, placing fourth in her first appearance at the event. The result launched a standout 2015-16 campaign that included her first two World Cup medals and a third-place finish in the overall standings, earning her a Crystal Globe as one of the world’s top skeleton athletes.
Over her career, Channell represented Canada at the Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang in 2018, Beijing in 2022 and Milano Cortina in 2026. Her best Olympic finish came in South Korea, where she placed 10th overall.
She also earned four World Cup medals, highlighted by silver-medal finishes in Park City and Whistler, along with bronze medals in Königssee and Winterberg. In 2020, she teamed with fellow Canadian Dave Greszczyszyn to win silver in the mixed team event at the IBSF World Championships.
“Aside from representing Canada at three Olympics with my friends and family watching, there are many highlights. One of my favourites was with Dave (Greszczyszyn) in the inaugural team event when we came second by .01. We were the clear underdogs and to have that moment with him was special,” said Channell, who was also proud to have the opportunity to mentor Hallie Clarke and Josip Brusic through their first Olympics in 2026.
Leadership role helped reshape Canadian skeleton program
While Channell’s competitive achievements established her among Canada’s elite sliders, officials within the sport say her leadership during a critical rebuilding period may prove equally significant.
“Jane has been the heartbeat of our program for many years,” said Joe Cecchini, high performance director and head coach, National Skeleton Program. “Her professionalism, work ethic, and willingness to support teammates have had an immeasurable impact on Canadian skeleton. She has been a leader through every phase of her career and played a critical role in rebuilding and strengthening our program into what it is today.”
Channell said she originally intended to retire following the Beijing Olympics but chose to remain in the program to help guide a period of organizational change ahead of the 2026 Games.
“I thought 2022 was going to be my last year, but I wasn’t okay leaving the program and the sport in Canada, in the state it was in at that time. So, I decided to stick around. There was so much change, but it was very rewarding to be a part of it all,” she added. “We now have a recruitment process. There is clarity for athlete development standards. We are able to challenge each other on how we can be better and are able to always go back to the “why” we are doing things. This helped build a solid, positive foundation for us that has set the tone for years to come. To be a part of this rebuild is something I’m really proud of.”
Known internationally for her sportsmanship and competitive drive, Channell said she is stepping away knowing younger athletes are prepared to move into larger roles within the Canadian system.
“I could have stayed around longer, and I would have been more than capable to slide, but if I did that, I feel like I’d be blocking that next step for athletes coming up the pipeline who now deserve the opportunity and I don’t want to do that,” she said. “To everyone who has been part of this journey, thank you. Thank you for believing in me, supporting me and standing by me through every high and every low. This sport has given me so much more than I ever imagined and I will forever be grateful for the people, memories and experiences that came with it. While this chapter is coming to an end, it will always be a part of who I am.”
Bobsleigh CANADA Skeleton said Channell leaves the sport as one of the most influential athletes in program history, both for her competitive achievements and for helping establish a stronger foundation for future generations of Canadian sliders.