CANMORE, Alta. — Biathlon Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee have named eight athletes to represent Team Canada in biathlon at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, a roster led by veteran Adam Runnalls and anchored by seven first-time Olympians aiming to deliver personal-best results on one of the sport’s most established international stages.
The roster was announced Jan. 22, 2026, following an Olympic qualification process tied to performances across the Olympic Qualification window. Canada earned eight quota spots through its Nations Cup ranking at the end of the 2024–25 season, with results counted from the IBU World Cup and IBU Cup circuits as well as the IBU World Championships.
The selected athletes are Zachary Connelly (Ottawa, Ont.), Jasper Fleming (Squamish, B.C.), Nadia Moser (Whitehorse, Yuk.), Pascale Paradis (Calgary, Alta.), Benita Peiffer (Whistler, B.C.), Logan Pletz (Regina, Sask.), Shilo Rousseau (Thessalon, Ont.), and Adam Runnalls (Calgary, Alta.).
The group reflects a mix of emerging athletes and one returning Olympian, with Runnalls bringing prior Olympic experience after competing at Beijing 2022. He was part of the Canadian men’s 4×7.5-kilometre relay team that placed sixth in Beijing, the country’s best-ever Olympic result in the event. Runnalls is expected to play a leadership role for the relatively young squad as Canada looks to build on recent progress in international competition.
“Being named a two-time Olympic team member is a powerful reminder of the commitment and consistency it takes to compete at the highest level of my sport,” said Runnalls. “I’m extremely excited to be heading to Milano Cortina. The race venue is a place where I’ve achieved all of my personal bests, which gives me a lot of confidence. I’ve been building toward this Olympics my entire career, and I can’t wait to give it everything I have.”
Biathlon events at Milano Cortina 2026 are scheduled to take place from Feb. 8 to Feb. 21 at the Anterselva Biathlon Arena, one of the sport’s most recognized venues on the World Cup circuit. The site is known for its demanding altitude and technical racing conditions, factors that can influence both skiing speed and shooting performance.
For Canada, the selection also highlights athletes who have overcome setbacks and steadily progressed through international ranks. Nadia Moser, a Whitehorse-based athlete, is set to make her Olympic debut after missing out on Beijing 2022 due to a broken ankle. Moser has competed for Canada at every IBU World Championships since 2020 and was part of top-eight mixed relay finishes at both the 2021 and 2023 IBU World Championships. Earlier in her career, she competed at the 2012 and 2014 Arctic Winter Games, reaching the podium in every race at both events.
Calgary’s Pascale Paradis is another first-time Olympian on the roster, following a development path that included the Lausanne 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games. Paradis raced in her first senior IBU World Championships in 2025 and contributed to two top-10 finishes in the women’s relay on the World Cup circuit last season, indicating continued upward momentum in results and experience.
“Being named to represent Team Canada honestly feels crazy and awesome. It is still surreal and I can’t believe it’s happening and it’s hard to believe that my dream as a child is actually coming true,” said Paradis. “The Youth Olympics were pretty eye opening into what it means to have many different sports and countries competing at one event. It was very inspirational, especially at a young age, and it showed me just how big this dream could be. I’m ready to ski my heart out for Canada at these Games.”
Biathlon Canada officials described the roster as a blend of experience and emerging talent, with a focus on development outcomes that translate to Olympic performance. Clayton Whitman, Biathlon Canada’s Performance Pathway Manager, said the group has demonstrated success at each stage of the high-performance system and has earned the opportunity to compete at the sport’s top level.
“This is a determined group of athletes, combining veteran experience with youthful energy and drive,” said Clayton Whitman, Performance Pathway Manager with Biathlon Canada. “Each of these athletes has achieved success at every stage of their development, and it is inspiring to see them reach the very top of biathlon. They are a strong, supportive group who work tirelessly every day, and it is rewarding to see those long hours and sacrifices pay off.”
Team Canada’s biathlon program has historically produced three Olympic medals, all won by Myriam Bédard. Men’s biathlon has been part of the Olympic program since Squaw Valley 1960, while women’s biathlon was added at Albertville 1992. The 2026 team will look to add to that medal history while also gaining valuable experience for future international cycles.
Jennifer Heil, Team Canada’s Milano Cortina 2026 Chef de Mission, pointed to biathlon’s unique demands and praised the selected athletes for earning their Olympic spots.
“Biathlon is one of the purest tests of mind-body connection in sport—pushing all-out endurance, then demanding total calm and precision on the range. Huge congratulations to the eight athletes who will race for Team Canada,” said Jennifer Heil, Team Canada’s Milano Cortina 2026 Chef de Mission. “With seven first-time Olympic team members and veteran Adam leading the team, it’s going to be a special Olympic experience in Anterselva, where biathlon is truly beloved. We’ll be cheering you on every step of the way.”
The biathlon team will be supported by coaches and technical staff, including team leader and coach Andrew Chisholm, coach Helene Jorgensen, multiple wax technicians, team manager Clayton Whitman, and massage therapist Stephen Waterreus. Biathlon Canada noted that nominations remain subject to final approval by the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Team Selection Committee following formal submissions from national sport organizations.
