As the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics come to a close, Canada has selected two of its premier speedskaters to represent the nation as flag-bearers during the closing ceremony. The Canadian Olympic Committee announced on Saturday that Valerie Maltais and Steven Dubois will proudly carry the Canadian flag during the final march of the Games.
Valerie Maltais, aged 35, had an impressive performance in Italy, contributing significantly to Canada's medal tally. She secured three medals in total: a gold medal in the women's team pursuit speedskating event, along with two bronze medals in the women's 3,000m and 1,500m speedskating events. This marks a remarkable achievement for Maltais, who is competing in her third Olympic Games. Throughout her illustrious career, she has accumulated five Olympic medals, including her previous team-pursuit gold at the Beijing 2022 Games and a short-track silver medal from the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
On the other hand, Steven Dubois, who is 28 years old, also showcased extraordinary talent at the Milano Cortina Games. He earned a gold medal in the men's 500m short track event and a silver medal in the short track mixed team relay. This experience marks Dubois’ second Olympic appearance, having made a significant impact during his debut at the Beijing 2022 Olympics, where he clinched a gold medal in the men's 5,000m short track relay, a silver in the 1,500m event, and a bronze in the mixed team relay.
The strength of Canadian athletes in speedskating is evident, as a total of 10 out of Canada's 20 medals at the Winter Games were attributed to this discipline. The achievements of Maltais and Dubois have not only highlighted their individual skills, but also underscored Canada’s dominance in speedskating at the Olympic level.
As the closing ceremony approaches, the selection of Maltais and Dubois as flag-bearers serves as a fitting tribute to Canada's accomplishments in winter sports. Their remarkable careers and impressive medal counts echo the dedication and hard work that athletes put forth in their pursuit of excellence on the world stage.
