Local Athletes Gear Up for Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics

The Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics officially opens on February 9, 2026, but women’s hockey action kicks off a day earlier, featuring local athlete Martina Fedel. The 23-year-old animal biology student from the University of Guelph will take on the role of goalie for the Italian national team, as they face off against France at 8:40 a.m. ET on February 8. Fedel, who also plays for the Guelph Gryphons, was honored as the University of Guelph Women’s Athlete of the Year for the 2023-24 season.

In addition to Fedel, another local star, freestyle skier Rachael Karker, is set to compete in the Olympics. Born in Guelph and raised in Erin, Ontario, Karker earned a bronze medal in the women’s halfpipe event at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. Speaking to CBC K-W’s The Morning Edition, Karker expressed her ambition to replicate her success, acknowledging the pressure that comes with expectations from teammates and funding considerations.

“We have funding that is almost directly tied to the amount of medals we get,” Karker noted. “The Olympics and world championships are the two that they care about a lot.”

The women’s halfpipe qualifiers will take place on February 19, 2026, and Karker is eager to perform in front of a supportive crowd. Unlike the previous year’s Games, which were impacted by COVID-19 restrictions, she looks forward to seeing familiar faces in the audience. “I’m just mostly excited to have a bunch of people there,” she shared.

Community Engagement and Viewing Opportunities

As excitement builds for the Olympics, local libraries are partnering with CBC to host watch parties. The central branch of the Kitchener Public Library will hold daily events, screening the Olympics from February 9 to 19. Viewing times include Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., and Monday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8:45 p.m. The library will be closed on February 10 for staff development and on February 16 for Family Day. Similar events are planned at the Cambridge Public Library, Waterloo Public Library, and various branches of the Region of Waterloo Public Library.

For those who prefer to watch from home, CBC, Canada’s Olympic Network, has launched a dedicated page for the Milano-Cortina Winter Games. Offering over 1,200 hours of live coverage, CBC will broadcast 22 hours of content each day across its platforms. Viewers can also access the events on demand through CBC Gem, allowing them to filter the schedule by sport, Canadian athletes, and medal events.

As the countdown to the Games continues, local athletes like Fedel and Karker are poised to represent their communities on the world stage. The energy surrounding the Olympics is palpable, as families and friends prepare to support their favorite competitors from the sidelines.

For those planning to host their own watch parties, CBC K-W invites stories and feedback from the community, fostering a spirit of connection during this global sporting event.