Canada’s skeleton team for the upcoming Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics consists of two newcomers and one seasoned athlete. Hallie Clarke, a 21-year-old from Brighton, Ont., is a rookie with a remarkable track record, having secured a world women’s championship title in 2024 and a women’s world junior title in 2025. Clarke’s journey towards the Olympics began at a young age when she was inspired by Canadian ice dance duo Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir during the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver.
Jane Channell, hailing from North Vancouver, B.C., will be participating in her third Olympic Games at the age of 37. Channell’s previous best Olympic performance was a 10th place finish in 2018. Her interest in skeleton was sparked when she watched the sport during the 2002 Olympic Games in Salt Lake City with her grandfather, who expressed disbelief at the athletes’ daring feats.
Josip Brusic, aged 23, is a relatively new addition to the sport, having embraced skeleton less than four years ago and now earning a spot on the Olympic team. Brusic expressed his excitement about the opportunity, highlighting his joy and enthusiasm upon receiving the news.
The skeleton competition in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, is scheduled to take place from February 12 to 15. Canada’s last Olympic skeleton medal was claimed by Jon Montgomery, who won gold in Whistler in 2010.
Leading up to the Olympics, there was controversy surrounding the Canadian women’s skeleton team. Accusations were made by U.S. slider Katie Uhlaender against Canada’s head coach Joe Cecchini, alleging sabotage of her chances to compete in her sixth Olympic Games. This situation arose after Canada withdrew four out of six women from a North American Cup race in January, affecting Uhlaender’s qualification points.
Despite the controversy, the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation’s Integrity Unit investigated the matter and found that Canada had not violated any rules or codes. Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton explained that the decision to withdraw athletes was based on their well-being and development as young athletes competing at a lower level.
Channell expressed her trust in the national sport organization and the IBSF’s review process, acknowledging the need to move forward positively. The Canadian athletes, including Clarke, Brusic, and Channell, along with their coaches, are focused on abiding by the sport’s rules and upholding fair play during the upcoming Games.
The Canadian skeleton team’s rankings were revealed, with Clarke positioned 13th in the world, Channell at 25th among women, and Brusic at 23rd among men. The team is gearing up to represent Canada at the Winter Olympics with determination and sportsmanship.