Canadian Athletes Embrace AI Innovations at Winter Games

Canadian athletes are integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into their training regimens as they prepare for the Winter Games in Milan-Cortina, Italy. While AI has proven to be an influential tool in optimizing performance, as demonstrated by the experiences of athletes such as Xavier McKeever, the technology is not universally embraced for competitive strategy.

McKeever, a 22-year-old cross-country skier from Canmore, Alberta, and his teammates once engaged AI to create a training plan. The results were unexpectedly impractical. “It was the craziest training plan we’ve ever seen,” he said. The AI suggested daily high-intensity workouts followed by a week of complete rest, which they found unrealistic. “It was pretty funny to see that ChatGPT can’t write a training plan, and that we need our coaching to help us with that,” he added.

While AI’s limitations are evident, its presence in the lives of Canadian athletes is unmistakable. The term “artificial intelligence” encompasses software designed to perform tasks once thought to require human intelligence, including machine learning and data analysis. Andy Van Neutegem, vice-president of performance sciences, research and innovation at Own the Podium, highlighted that the term is often misunderstood. “We tend to use the word ‘machine learning’,” he explained.

AI’s Role in Training

Athletes are utilizing various technologies, from smart wearables like Apple and Garmin watches to advanced motion analysis tools. These devices collect data on sleep patterns, heart rates, and physical performance, contributing to training optimization. Despite the influx of data, many athletes believe that intuition and personal experience are equally essential for success.

Freestyle skier Mikael Kingsbury, a triple Olympic moguls medallist, emphasized the importance of instinct in his sport. “In my sport that’s performance on demand, it’s important to have some data, but have a very good feel for the snow,” he stated. For Kingsbury, relying solely on numbers could be detrimental in an environment where conditions are constantly shifting.

When it comes to the Olympics and Paralympics, national teams guard their technological advancements closely. Van Neutegem noted that some sports, particularly snowboarding and freestyle skiing, leverage AI extensively. “We’re using AI to track biomechanical positioning of the body,” he said. This technology mimics human vision to assess body shapes and determine if they are optimal for performance.

Sliding sports have also adopted AI, employing local positioning systems to analyze the fastest routes down a track. Van Neutegem explained, “You’re bringing an extraordinary amount of information into a computer, which is computing it and providing interpretations based on long-term data collection.”

The Future of AI in Sports

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has recognized AI’s potential impact on sports. In a statement made when the IOC launched its AI Agenda nearly two years ago, President Thomas Bach remarked that AI could revolutionize judging and refereeing. Notably, the International Gymnastics Federation is set to implement an AI judging platform at the Paris 2024 Summer Games to assist human judges in evaluating performances.

AI’s role in judging has already been highlighted in recent competitions. At the Beijing 2022 Winter Games, Max Parrot, Canada’s slopestyle champion, acknowledged a judging oversight during his performance when he touched his knee instead of grabbing his board. This incident underscored the need for precise judging in sports where nuances can significantly impact results.

Canadian freestyle halfpipe skier Rachel Karker shared her perspective on AI in judging. “They were using AI to see if it could call the tricks to make sure that is what someone did,” she recalled of an AI judging platform tested during the X Games. Karker expressed a mix of hope and concern about AI’s potential impact on judging accuracy, noting that the variability in athletes’ performances may pose challenges for AI systems.

As Canadian athletes prepare for the Winter Games, the intersection of technology and sport continues to evolve. While AI presents new opportunities for enhancing training and performance, the importance of human insight and experience remains a fundamental aspect of athletic success. The journey of integrating AI into sports illustrates a complex relationship between technology and tradition, with athletes navigating both realms as they strive for excellence on the global stage.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on February 13, 2026.