With the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milano-Cortina less than two years away, Canada’s top long track speed skaters are preparing for a pivotal stop on the international circuit as Calgary hosts the second ISU World Cup Speed Skating event of the season. Before the competition begins, members of Team Canada will meet with journalists at a scheduled media availability on November 19 at the Olympic Oval, offering a final opportunity for non-rights-holding outlets to gather footage and conduct interviews.
The World Cup event, running November 21–23, brings the world’s fastest long track athletes to Calgary for a high-stakes weekend of racing that could help shape Olympic qualification. As teams from around the globe compete for podium finishes and critical rankings, the Canadian roster is entering the competition with momentum and expectations.
Among those confirmed for media interviews are Olympic medallists Isabelle Weidemann, Ivanie Blondin and Valérie Maltais, along with sprint specialists Laurent Dubreuil and Connor Howe. The group represents the core of Canada’s long track success in recent seasons and is expected to be central to the country’s ambitions in Milano-Cortina.
According to the event details, Team Canada athletes will be available for interviews on Wednesday, November 19. An on-ice training session is scheduled from 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m., followed by media interviews from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. All activities will take place at the Olympic Oval, located at 288 Collegiate Blvd NW on the University of Calgary campus. Journalists planning to attend are asked to confirm with media contacts Alain Brouillette or Chris Dornan.
The Olympic Oval—long recognized as one of the fastest ice surfaces in the world—has hosted numerous international competitions and training camps since its opening for the 1988 Winter Games. With its reputation for producing world-class performances, the venue is an ideal stop on the World Cup circuit and a strategic training location for athletes aiming to peak ahead of the next Olympic cycle.
The competition itself is expected to draw significant attention, as Canada’s long track program has been among the nation’s most consistent sources of winter sports success. Skaters such as Weidemann, Blondin and Maltais have become central figures in international women’s distance and mass start events, while Dubreuil remains one of the world’s top sprinters.
Alongside the English-language announcement, Speed Skating Canada also issued a French version inviting media to the same availability. “La route vers les Jeux olympiques d’hiver 2026 à Milan-Cortina passe par Calgary le week-end prochain, alors que les meilleurs patineurs de vitesse longue piste du monde se disputeront les médailles et les places olympiques lors de la deuxième étape de la Coupe du monde ISU longue piste, du 21 au 23 novembre à l’Anneau olympique,” the organization stated.
The French advisory also confirmed that the same marquee Canadian skaters—“Isabelle Weidemann, Ivanie Blondin, Valérie Maltais, Laurent Dubreuil, Connor Howe et beaucoup d’autres”—will be available for interviews after their on-ice training. It reiterates that this media window is “la dernière occasion pour les médias ne détenant pas les droits de filmer des images avant le début de la compétition.”
For Canadian athletes, the home World Cup is both an opportunity and a pressure point. Competing in front of local fans at a familiar venue offers comfort, but also brings the expectations of delivering strong results on home ice. With Olympic qualification events intensifying, performances in Calgary could influence internal rankings, race assignments and long-term roster decisions.
The World Cup stop is also expected to provide a boost to the local economy. Past international sporting events at the Olympic Oval have generated increased tourism activity, drawing spectators, team personnel and officials from numerous countries. With Calgary aiming to further solidify its reputation as a winter sports hub, successful hosting of this event contributes to its international profile.
As the November 21–23 World Cup approaches, the November 19 media availability marks the last chance for journalists to capture pre-competition footage and insights before skaters shift their focus fully to racing. With the path to Milano-Cortina narrowing and competition intensifying across the circuit, Canada’s athletes will be looking to capitalize on home-ice advantage in a critical phase of their Olympic journey.