Canada has named its slate of skeleton athletes for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, selecting a trio that blends veteran leadership with emerging talent as the national program targets a return to the Olympic podium.
Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton and the Canadian Olympic Committee announced Thursday that three athletes have been nominated to compete in skeleton at the Games in Italy, with qualification based on results posted during the Olympic Qualification window.
The nominated athletes are Josip Brusic (Okotoks, Alta.), Jane Channell (North Vancouver, B.C.), and Hallie Clarke (Brighton, Ont.).
The support team nominated alongside them includes Joe Cecchini (Calgary, Alta.) – Coach, Kevin Boyer (Sherwood Park, Alta.) – Coach, Micaela Widmer (Calgary, Alta.) – Team Leader, and Dr. Ainsley Vetesse – Integrated Support Team.
The roster reflects a program that has been rebuilding in recent years, with Canada aiming to convert strong starts and international results into Olympic success on a track where marginal gains can decide medals.
The announcement comes as Canada’s winter sport organizations continue final preparations ahead of Milano Cortina 2026, where national federations are working to secure funding, refine athlete performance programs, and build competitive depth across disciplines.
Channell will be one of the most experienced Canadian sliding athletes in Cortina, set to make her third consecutive Olympic appearance. She remains a consistent performer on the international circuit, described as one of the fastest starters in IBSF World Cup competition. A four-time IBSF World Cup medallist, she also won an IBSF Crystal Globe after finishing third overall in the 2015-16 World Cup standings.
Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton credited Channell with playing “a key leadership role in the rebuild of the National Skeleton Program on the track to Milano Cortina 2026,” highlighting her influence beyond race-day results.
Channell said the nomination reflects years of work and the collective effort of the broader program.
“When I first started sliding in 2011, I never would have imagined that I’d be a three-time Canadian Olympian. And when we chatted after Beijing 2022 about continuing for another four years, I wasn’t sure if I would be able to do it. I was wrong,” said Channell. “These last four years have flown by with the ups and downs that come with any Olympic quadrennial, but this time it’s different. For the first time in my career, it truly feels like we did it together. We established a plan. We executed. We competed. We qualified for a third Olympic Games with the full support of the national skeleton program. It takes a village, but most importantly it takes a strong, supportive program. It is all of the athletes, coaches and support staff who have inspired me to keep going. As a result, we did it together.”
Channell was inspired to pursue skeleton after watching the sport return permanently to the Olympic program at Salt Lake City 2002. Her goal became more tangible leading up to Vancouver 2010, and she later transitioned into the sport after competing as a varsity sprinter at Simon Fraser University.
Clarke, meanwhile, arrives as one of Canada’s brightest new medal threats in sliding sports. She won gold at the 2024 IBSF World Championships in Winterberg, Germany, becoming the youngest women’s skeleton world champion in history at age 19. She followed that by capturing gold at the 2025 IBSF Junior World Championships, making her the first skeleton athlete to hold both junior and senior world titles at the same time.
Her rapid rise began in 2018 when, at 14, she moved from skating into skeleton. She earned a spot on the Canadian National Team and represented Canada at the Lausanne 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games. Clarke made her World Cup debut in 2022 and continued progressing through the sport’s top levels.
“This is a dream come true. As a child, I used to pretend to skate in front of the TV while watching the Olympics, saying that was going to be me one day. The sport changed, but the dream never did. I know little me would be so proud of all the hard work and sacrifice I’ve put in over the years to make this dream come true,” said Clarke. “It’s an honour to represent Canada, and even more special to be doing it with an amazing team. Qualifying with Jane, someone I have aspired to be like since I started the sport, means more than words can describe. Joe, Kevin and Micaela have been at my side watching me grow as an athlete and a person since I was 14. To have them as our coaches at the Games, supporting both of us, makes me emotional. We have a small but mighty program. I can’t wait to get to Italy.”
Brusic will be the lone male athlete on Canada’s skeleton team. He only began competing internationally in December 2023 and has moved quickly through the ranks. He teamed with Clarke to place fourth in the mixed team event at the 2025 IBSF Junior World Championships.
This season, Brusic raced primarily on developmental circuits across Europe, Asia, and North America, reaching the podium three times and sitting second overall in the standings, according to the release.
Canada has won four Olympic skeleton medals since the sport returned to the Games at Salt Lake City 2002. Three of those medals came at Turin 2006, the last time the Olympics were held in Italy. Canada’s other skeleton medal was won by Jon Montgomery at Vancouver 2010.
At Milano Cortina, skeleton competition will run February 12–15 (Day 6 to 9) at the Cortina Sliding Centre, where Canada will enter athletes in the women’s and men’s individual events. Canada will also compete in the mixed team event, which will make its Olympic debut at these Games.
Jennifer Heil, Team Canada’s Milano Cortina 2026 Chef de Mission, said the athletes are building momentum at the right time.
“Team Canada’s skeleton squad athletes are positioning themselves as contenders for Milano Cortina 2026,” said Jennifer Heil, Team Canada’s Milano Cortina 2026 Chef de Mission. “We’re so proud of all the hard work, dedication, and heart these athletes have shown this season. Wishing them a strong final stage of preparation as they get ready to bring the speed at the Cortina Sliding Centre and show the world what Canadians are made of!”
Before becoming official, all nominations remain subject to approval by the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Team Selection Committee, following receipt of nominations from national sport organizations.
The Canadian Olympic Committee said fans can follow Team Canada updates and participate in Team Canada FanFest activities tied to the Games, with more details available through @TeamCanada on social media.