EDMONTON, AB – The University of Alberta will once again take centre stage during the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games, as numerous alumni will represent Canada at the Milano Cortina 2026 Games. 

Among those heading to Italy include four former Pandas student-athletes, one former Golden Bear, and nine total University alumni, which span from athletes competing, to coaches, physicians and broadcasters. Additionally, the Saville Community Sports Centre, which is the National training centre for Curling Canada, will be the practice facility for the Canadian Curling teams.

Milano Cortina 2026 will mark the 14th Winter Olympiad featuring University of Alberta alumni (1956, 1960, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1994, 1998, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026), with this the sixth-straight Winter Olympic Games with representation. Including the Summer Games, U of A student-athletes, coaches, and alumni have competed at 29 Olympic Games, earning 11 medals (3 Gold, 1 Silver, 7 Bronze). 

The 2026 Winter Olympics will run from February 6th through February 22nd, while the Paralympics will run from March 6th to March 15th. 

Milano Cortina 2026 Connections

Melissa Lotholz, '23 BSc

• A former Pandas Track & Field student-athlete, Lotholz headlines the U of A alumni going to Italy, as she qualified for her third Olympics games and second as a pilot with the women's bobsled team. 
• Lotholz has been Canada's most consistent pilot throughout the current IBSF World Cup season, posting top-six finishes in seven monobob races. She placed 12th in at the Beijing 2022 games in two-women bobsleigh, and seventh at the PyeongChang 2018 Games. 
• Lotholz competed with Pandas Track & Field from 2011-2014, earning a Canada West Gold medal in the women's 4x200m relay in 2014. 

Kelsey Mitchell

• A Pandas Soccer alumni, Mitchell becomes the first former Panda to compete in both the summer and winter Olympic Games. A 2020 Olympic gold medalist in track cycling, Mitchell will be making her Winter Olympics debut in Bobsleigh in 2026. 
• Along with capturing gold in women's sprint in Tokyo, Mitchell competed in the Paris 2024 Games two years ago. 
• A member of Pandas Soccer in 2012 and 2013, she was a member of the 2013 Canada West Champion Pandas Soccer team.

Rachelle Brown (née Pidherny), '10 Dip(Ed), BPE

• Brown will be making her first Olympic appearance as an alternate on Team Homan, who won the 2025 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials in Halifax. 
• Brown competed with Pandas Curling from 2007-2010, participating at the national championship in each of her three varsity seasons, and was a CIS All-Canadian in 2009 and 2010. 
• Following her graduation, Brown had an illustrious curling career highlighted by seven appearances at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, including winning in 2019, and 2024, and 2025 as an alternate. Brown represented Canada at the World Championship three times, winning gold on Team Homan in 2024 and 2025. 

Rachel Homan, '20 BEd

• One of the most accomplished curlers in Canadian history, Homan earned an education degree from the University of Alberta in 2020. 
• Among her countless accomplishments on the ice, 2026 will mark Homan's third Olympic appearance, as she placed sixth in 2018, and fifth in mixed doubles in 2022. 
• Homan, who trains out of Saville Community Sports Centre, is a five-time Scotties Champion and three-time World Champion. 

Sarah Wilkes, '16 BEd

• The lead for Team Homan, Wilkes earned an education degree from the University of Alberta in 2016. 
• Wilkes has won three Canadian Championships (2019, 2024, 2025) and two World Championships.  
• Milano Cortina 2026 will be her first Olympic appearance. 

Marc Kennedy, '05 BCom

• A former Brandon Bobcat varsity athlete who earned a Business degree from the U of A in 2005, Kennedy is one of the most decorated curlers in Canadian history. 
• 2026 will be Kennedy's fourth Olympic appearance for Canada, which includes a gold medal at the Vancouver 2010 Games, bronze at the Beijing 2022 Games, and fourth place in 2018. 
• Across his nearly two decades of elite-level curling, Kennedy has won four Brier titles, two World Championships, and earned gold at the 2003 FISU World University Games in Italy. 
• Kennedy plays third on Team Jacobs, which won the 2025 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials in Halifax. 

Dr. Dhiren Naidu

• Dr. Naidu will be one of two Lead Physicians who will be responsible for the NHL athletes competing in men's hockey. 
• Dr. Naidu is the Team Physician for the Edmonton Oilers.
• He is an associate professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the U of A. He also works at HealthPointe Medical Centre, a multidisciplinary musculoskeletal clinic specializing in chronic injury.
• Dr. Naidu is also the team physician for the Golden Bears Football team, one of the lead physicians for Golden Bears and Pandas Athletics, and is the team physician for the Edmonton Elks. 

Dana Ferguson, '11 BEd, BPE

• A former Pandas curler and teammate of both Rachelle Brown and Joanne Courtney, Ferguson will be heading to the Paralympic Games as an assistant coach with the Canadian National Wheelchair Curling Program. 
• Ferguson has coached the Mixed Doubles Wheelchair Curling Team at the last four World Championships, earning a bronze medal at the 2023 World Wheelchair Mixed Doubles Curling Championship in Richmond, BC. 
• As a competitive curler, Ferguson participated at six Canadian Championships, winning the 2019 Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Sydney, Nova Scotia. As a Panda, she was also named a first team CIS All-Canadian in 2010. 
• She is also the Camp Coordinator for the Green & Gold Sport System at the University of Alberta. 

Dr. Michael Lizmore, '13 MA, '18 PhD

• Lizmore, who competed with the Golden Bears Curling program from 2011-2013, is the head coach of the Canadian National Wheelchair Curling Program. 
• In the seven years Lizmore has been the head coach, the Canadian Wheelchair Curling program has won three world championship silver medals (2020, 2023, 2024). 
• He was a CIS Championship-winning student-athlete with the Golden Bears, winning the 2012 CIS Championship in St. Catharines, Ontario. He was also a 2012 and 2013 CIS All-Canadian, and earned a bronze medal representing Canada at the 2013 FISU Winter World University Games in Italy. 
• Along with earning both a Masters Degree and PhD from the University of Alberta, Lizmore has served in various roles on campus, including as a graduate teaching assistant, assistant lecturer, and as a mental performance coach with numerous Golden Bears and Pandas varsity programs. 

Joanne Courtney (née Taylor), '11 BScN

• A former Pandas Curler and prior Olympic participant, Courtney will be on the CBC broadcast as an analyst for curling. 
• Courtney was a member of Team Homan's rink that placed sixth at the PyeongChang 2018 Games. 
• She is a prior Canadian and World Champion (2017), as well as a Canadian Mixed Doubles Champion. 
• Courtney competed with the Pandas in 2008 and 2010 alongside Rachelle Brown. 

Dr Helene Jørgensen, '24 PhD

• Jørgensen has been named to Canada's national biathlon coaching staff, helping prepare Team Canada for competition on the world's biggest stage.
• Jørgensen earned her PhD in Sport Psychology and Coaching from the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation.

Saville Community Sports Centre

• Opened in 2003, Saville Community Sports Centre is the National Training Centre for Curling Canada. 
• Saville will act as the final training ground for the Canadian Olympic curling teams prior to their departure for Italy in early February.  
• A world-class curling venue, Saville plays hosts to countless World Curling Tour Events each year, and recently hosted the 2026 Canada West Curling Championships in January.