Canada’s skeleton team for the upcoming Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics features a mix of rookies and a seasoned competitor. Hallie Clarke, a 21-year-old rookie from Brighton, Ontario, has already achieved international success by winning the world women’s championship in 2024 and the women’s world junior title in 2025. Clarke’s Olympic dream began at a young age when she watched Canadian ice dancers Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir at the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver.
Jane Channell, a 37-year-old veteran from North Vancouver, British Columbia, will be participating in her third Olympic Games. Channell’s interest in skeleton was sparked when she watched the sport during the 2002 Olympic Games in Salt Lake City with her grandfather. She considers herself a product of the 2010 Winter Olympics legacy, having had the opportunity to train on the Olympic sliding track in Whistler, British Columbia.
Josip Brusic, aged 23, is a relatively new entrant to the sport of skeleton and is thrilled to have qualified for the Olympics. The competition for skeleton in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, will take place from February 12 to 15. Canada’s last Olympic skeleton medal was Jon Montgomery’s gold in Whistler in 2010.
There was controversy surrounding the Canadian women’s skeleton team before the Olympics, with accusations of sabotage from U.S. slider Katie Uhlaender towards Canada’s head coach Joe Cecchini. Canada’s decision to withdraw athletes from a North American Cup race in January generated scrutiny, but an investigation by the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation’s Integrity Unit found no violation of rules.
Channell expressed her trust in the national sport organization and the fairness of the sport, emphasizing a commitment to respectful competition. The Canadian sliders are focused on the upcoming Games and have chosen not to comment further on the issue until after the Olympics. Clarke, Channell, and Brusic are prepared to represent Canada with dedication and integrity at the Winter Olympics.