{"id":495638,"date":"2026-02-24T05:37:13","date_gmt":"2026-02-24T05:37:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/495638\/"},"modified":"2026-02-24T05:37:13","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T05:37:13","slug":"team-canada-athletes-welcomed-home-after-21-medal-olympic-performance-national","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/495638\/","title":{"rendered":"Team Canada athletes welcomed home after 21-medal Olympic performance – National"},"content":{"rendered":"

Canadian flags waved and children cheered as Team Canada athletes returned home Monday after capturing 21 medals, including five gold, at the Milano Cortina Olympic<\/a> Winter Games.<\/p>\n

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Supporters gathered at airports in Toronto and Montreal, greeting athletes with signs, pom-poms and applause after Canada secured five gold medals along with a series of hard-fought podium finishes.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tCanadian ice hockey players Renata Fast, left to right, Natalie Spooner and Ella Shelton speak with media at Pearson Airport in Toronto, on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026.\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tTHE CANADIAN PRESS\/Sammy Kogan\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\u201cFeels good, feels good to be back on Canadian soil,\u201d curler Brett Gallant said upon arrival from Milan.<\/p>\n

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Gallant was part of Canada\u2019s return to the top of the podium in men\u2019s curling.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell it\u2019s been a few years since Canadian men have been at the top of the podium, so it\u2019s nice to accomplish that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The women\u2019s hockey team came home with silver. Forward Natalie Spooner said the support from home was felt throughout the tournament.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t5:30
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCanada closes out Milano Cortina games with heartbreak and hope\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\u201cWe felt so much support from Canada, families and fans across the country and it\u2019s amazing,\u201d she told reporters. \u201cObviously it was heartbreaking we lost. I thought we had a great game, had our chances and it just didn\u2019t go our way.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Teammate Sarah Fillier described the championship atmosphere as unforgettable.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat gold medal game, the building was electric and the coolest environment I\u2019ve ever played in,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

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Bobsleigher Keaton Bruggeling, competing in his first Olympics, said the reception back home was overwhelming.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo have the rallying, feel the pride in the flag, it\u2019s an unbelievable feeling,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMoney and medals: Canadian Olympic officials push for more athlete funding\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\tAs Carney heads to India, Canada seeks to revoke citizenship of 2008 Mumbai attack \u2018mastermind\u2019\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\tVancouver airport ties Nexus outage to U.S. partial government shutdown\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n

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In Montreal, speedskater Val\u00e9rie Maltais returned with three medals and the honour of serving as a flagbearer at the closing ceremony. \u201cI got really emotional,\u201d she said of the homecoming.<\/p>\n

Freestyle skier Mika\u00ebl Kingsbury,\u00a0one of the most decorated mogul skiers in the sport\u2019s history, brought home gold in dual moguls and also carried the Canadian flag.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo win that in mogul skiing, the first gold medal and the first for Canada, and to be a flag bearer, it was huge,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Back in Toronto, family members waited eagerly for reunions. Marie Spooner said she was proud of her daughter\u2019s effort. \u201cShe has worked very hard to get there,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

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Fans lining the arrivals area said the Games helped unite the country. \u201cIt\u2019s nice, it\u2019s unity, bringing people together from all over the country,\u201d one supporter said.<\/p>\n

More athletes are expected to return in the days ahead.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tReflecting on the 2026 Winter Olympics\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

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