Ottawa has a lot to celebrate this week, and one person in particular deserves a hero's welcome.
Speed skater Ivanie Blondin, who calls Ottawa home, returned to the capital following a standout performance at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, where she won both gold and silver medals across two separate events. For a city that already claims Blondin as one of its own, the news is a source of enormous pride.
A Homecoming Worth Watching
After the games wrapped up, Blondin made a meaningful stop: she visited the speed skating club where her athletic journey first began, reconnecting with the next generation of skaters and the coaches who helped set her on the path to the podium.
CBC's Omar Dabaghi-Pacheco was on hand to capture the moment as Blondin greeted young fans at the facility, a reminder that the best athletes never forget where they started.
What She Won
Blondin's medal haul at Milano Cortina included gold in the women's team pursuit, where Canada's relay squad put together a dominant performance, and silver in the mass start event, one of the most tactically demanding disciplines in speed skating, a race that plays to her strengths as one of the sport's most complete competitors.
Ottawa's Speed Skating Tradition
Blondin's success is part of a broader tradition of speed skating excellence in the Ottawa region. The capital has produced competitive skaters for generations, and facilities like the one Blondin visited have long served as incubators for national-level talent.
For young athletes watching Blondin make her homecoming rounds this week, the message is clear: Ottawa can produce Olympic gold medalists, and it does.
What's Next
Following the Olympics, Blondin is expected to take some well-deserved downtime before returning to training ahead of the next World Cup season. Her Milano Cortina performance all but cements her legacy as one of Canada's all-time great speed skaters.
Ottawa is lucky to have her, and judging by the reception at her home club this week, the city knows it.
Source: CBC Ottawa
