Kingsbury and Thompson to Lead Canada as Flag Bearers at Milano-Cortina Games

Bassyonni

Published: January 28, 2026 10:22 AM ET

Kingsbury and Thompson to Lead Canada as Flag Bearers at Milano-Cortina Games

Mikaël Kingsbury and Marielle Thompson will carry Canada’s flag during the openeing ceremony of the Milano-Cortina Winter Games on February 6, 2026. This announcement was made by the Canadian Olympic Committee on Wednesday.

Kingsbury and Thompson: Olympic Champions

Both athletes are seasoned competitors, preparing for their fourth Winter Olympics. They will join their freestyle skiing and snowboard teammates during the ceremony, which will take place in Livigno, Italy.

Historic Games Setup

The Milano-Cortina Games will feature the largest geographical spread in Olympic history. Athletes will be distributed across 22,000 square kilometers, utilizing six Olympic villages. More than 200 Canadian athletes will participate alongside competitors from 92 countries.

Kingsbury’s Remarkable Career

Mikaël Kingsbury, 33, is a moguls skiing star.
He has earned three Olympic medals: silver in Sochi (2014), gold in Pyeongchang (2018), and silver in Beijing (2022).
Kingsbury holds 100 World Cup victories, the most by any skier.

Reflecting on the honor, Kingsbury expressed his pride and excitement at the prospect of carrying the flag. “I had goosebumps when I heard that I was going to be a flag-bearer,” he said. As he prepares for what may be his final Olympics, he aims to add further accolades to his illustrious career.

Thompson’s Journey Back

Marielle Thompson, also 33, hails from Whistler, British Columbia.
She has a gold medal from the 2018 Games and a silver from 2022.
Thompson is recovering from a knee injury sustained last season.

Thompson has faced significant challenges, including multiple surgeries on her right knee. Despite setbacks, she completed a podium finish last weekend in Veysonnaz, Switzerland. She remarked, “I’ve learned from these setbacks and definitely have come back stronger.”

Television Coverage

The opening ceremony will be aired live on CBC-TV, starting at 1:30 p.m. ET, with additional coverage available on the CBC Gem and CBC Olympic website. Canada’s flag-bearers Kingsbury and Thompson are the third pairing from different sports to receive this honor, following Charles Hamelin and Marie-Philip Poulin at the 2022 Winter Games.

Both athletes have expressed their deep appreciation for this distinguished role. They have a shared history of competing together, enhancing the meaning of this moment as they embark on this next Olympic adventure.