The Current Canadian Olympians stop by the Current
Feb 22, 2026
Mikaël Kingsbury, decorated freestyle skier and Olympic gold medallist, reflects on his run, fatherhood and future. Paul Poirier, Olympic bronze ice dancer, talks emotion and preparation. Piper Gilles, Olympic bronze ice dancer, shares what the medal means to her community. Jennifer Heil, former Olympic skier and Team Canada leader, offers perspective on team mood and leadership at the Games.
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Performance Over Medal Count
- Jennifer Heil says Olympic success should be measured by performance quality not just gold count.
- She highlights Team Canada's limited funding (30% less than 2004) yet strong performances, framing results as overachievement under constraint.
Prepare So You Have No Regrets
- Jennifer Heil tells athletes to have no regrets by controlling preparations rather than outcomes.
- She credits Megan Oldham's rebound after a crash to preparation and trained resiliency, not luck.
Financial Stress Shapes Performance
- Heil links financial pressure directly to athlete performance environment.
- She gives concrete figures: athletes pay ~$25,000 each to reach the start line and staff face job insecurity due to funding cuts.