Canada’s bobsleigh athletes are gearing up for the 2025–26 Olympic season with a renewed blend of experience, fresh energy, and national pride as they take to international tracks with the maple leaf emblazoned on their sleds. Following an intensive selection process, Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton (BCS) has named 36 athletes to represent the nation through the upcoming World Cup and North American Cup circuits, leading to the 2026 Winter Games in Milano/Cortina, Italy.
Veteran Pilots Lead Canada’s Olympic Push
Three Olympians will lead Canada’s women’s program on the World Cup circuit this season. Cynthia Appiah of Toronto and Melissa Lotholz of Barrhead, Alta.—both pilots at the 2022 Beijing Olympics—return to competition alongside newcomer Kristin Bujnowski of Mount Brydges, Ont. Bujnowski, a 2022 Olympic brakeman, has transitioned into the pilot’s seat and is set to begin her first full season at the World Cup level.
Their sleds will be pushed by a group of powerful and versatile athletes, including Olympic track cycling champion Kelsey Mitchell of Sherwood Park, Alta., who made the switch to bobsleigh this summer. Joining her are Olympian Dawn Richardson-Wilson of Edmonton, Niamh Haughey of Scarborough, Ont., Charlotte Ross of Ottawa, World Cup medallist Skylar Sieben of Cochrane, Alta., and Eden Wilson of Calgary.
Men’s Crews Bring Depth and Athletic Range
On the men’s side, top Canadian pilots Taylor Austin of Lethbridge, Alta., and Patrick Norton of Ottawa will lead their teams into the World Cup season. Their seven-member pool of brakemen includes first-time World Cup competitor Tobi Ade of Calgary; former diver Yohan Eskrick-Parkinson, also of Calgary; Olympian Mike Evelyn O’Higgins of Ottawa; Chris Holmstead of Burlington, Ont.; Shaq Murray-Lawrence of Scarborough, Ont.; Luka Stoikos of Stouffville, Ont.; and Mark Zanette of Woodbridge, Ont.
“Canada’s National Bobsleigh Program is powered by our experienced leaders, fueled by the drive our newcomers bring to the sport and driven by the diversity that defines us as being truly Canadian with athletes selected to the program from all corners of the country,” said Jesse Lumsden, high-performance director for Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton. “This group of athletes are fiercely determined to achieve their performance goals, and deliver results on the World Cup, while we continue to nurture and develop a deep pool of athletes in a healthy and supportive culture of excellence.”
Rising Talent Builds on the North American Cup
Beyond the World Cup circuit, Canada will also field five sleds in the North American Cup series, offering crucial developmental opportunities for emerging pilots and brakemen. Calgary firefighter Bianca Ribi will pilot one of two women’s sleds, balancing her professional duties with Olympic aspirations. Toronto’s Erica Voss will also continue developing her piloting skills on the circuit.
Ribi and Voss will be joined by Ariane Chiasson of Les Coteaux, Que.; Gracie McAllister of Cloverdale, B.C.; Brynn McNabb of White City, Sask.; Valerie Perreault of Quebec City; and Leah Walkeden of Edmonton as their brake athletes.
The men’s development team will be led by three pilots: Jay Dearborn of Ottawa, Cyrus Gray of Duncan, B.C., and Justin Tremblay of Saint-Hubert, Que. Dearborn, a former CFL defensive back, will share the track with a lineup of dynamic brakemen including Chris Ashley (Calgary), Keaton Bruggeling (Ottawa), D’Andre Clarke-Bastien (Toronto), Mark Mlakar (Mississauga, Ont.), Kenny M’Pindou (Edmonton), Shane Ohrt (Edmonton), Luke Puto (Humboldt, Sask.), and Kyle Stoob (Calgary).
Technical Expertise Anchored by Olympic Pedigree
Canada’s Olympic medal-winning pilots Justin Kripps and Lyndon Rush have taken on technical coaching roles within the national program, ensuring that decades of experience translate to the next generation of competitors. Joining them is four-time Olympian Chris Spring, who will oversee the Development Bobsleigh Team.
Athletes will also continue to benefit from a longstanding partnership with the Canadian Sport Institute Alberta, under the guidance of strength and conditioning coach Quin Sekulich. Sekulich has played a key role in developing sliding-sport athletes who have gone on to achieve podium results at the Olympic, World Championship, and World Cup levels.
Supporting a Culture of Excellence
Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton operates as a non-profit organization and serves as the national governing body for bobsleigh and skeleton. Its mission extends beyond competition, aiming to “develop champions in the community, on and off the track.” The organization’s programs are made possible through a network of partners including Karbon, Athabasca Oil Corporation (in collaboration with Canada Action’s “I Love Canadian Energy” campaign), Leeswood Construction, Bomber LD, PX3, Kuritec, and Vessi, as well as institutional support from the Government of Canada, Own the Podium, and the Canadian Olympic Committee.
As Canada’s bobsleigh teams prepare for the 2025–26 season, the blend of seasoned veterans and promising rookies underscores a national drive for excellence that has defined the program for nearly six decades. With eyes firmly set on Milano/Cortina, the country’s athletes and coaches are aiming not just to compete—but to continue Canada’s proud legacy on the ice and in the world of winter sport.
