Canada hosted and participated in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia. Canada previously hosted the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal and the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary. Canada sent a team of 206 athletes (116 men, 90 women), including participants in all 15 sports, and finished with 14 gold medals and 26 in total (ranking 1st and 3rd respectively), surpassing their previous best medal performance at the 2006 Winter Olympics. The 14 gold medals also set the all-time record for most gold medals at a single Winter Olympics, one more than the previous record of 13 set by the former Soviet Union in 1976 and Norway in 2002. This record was matched at the 2018 PyeongChang Games when Germany and Norway tied it, and broken at the 2022 Beijing Games by Norway. Canada was the first host nation to win the gold medal count at a Winter Olympics since Norway at the 1952 Winter Olympics.
Brian McKeever became the first Canadian athlete to be named to both Paralympic and Olympic teams, although he did not compete in the Olympic Games.
Medalists
| width="78%" align="left" valign="top" | Medal Name Sport Event Date Freestyle skiing Men's moguls Snowboarding Women's snowboard cross Speed skating Women's 1000 metres Skeleton Men's Tessa Virtue Figure skating Ice dancing Freestyle skiing Women's ski cross Heather Moyse Bobsleigh Two-woman Ice hockey Women's tournament Short track Men's 500 metres Charles HamelinFrançois HamelinOlivier JeanFrançois-Louis Tremblay Short track Men's 5000 metre relay Lucas MakowskyDenny Morrison Speed Skating Men's team pursuit Snowboarding Men's parallel giant slalom Ben HebertMarc KennedyKevin MartinJohn Morris Curling Men's Ice hockey Men's tournament Freestyle skiing Women's moguls Snowboarding Men's snowboard cross Short track Women's 500 metres Speed skating Women's 1500 metres Kalyna RobergeMarianne St-GelaisTania Vicent Short track Women's 3000 metre relay Helen Upperton Bobsleigh Two-woman Cheryl BernardCarolyn DarbyshireKristie MooreSusan O'Connor Curling Women's Speed skating Women's 3000 metres Speed skating Women's 5000 metres Figure skating Women's singles Short track Men's 500 metres Lascelles BrownChris Le BihanLyndon Rush Bobsleigh Four-man | width="22%" align="left" valign="top" |
Medals by sportSportTotalShort track speed skating2215Speed skating2125Freestyle skiing2103Snowboarding2103Ice hockey2002Bobsled1113Curling1102Figure skating1012Skeleton1001Total147526
Preparation
In May 2009, a motion for the Canadian Olympic team to wear seal skin on their uniforms was unopposed in Canadian parliament. The motion read: "That, in the opinion of the House, the government should take advantage of the opportunity provided by the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games to promote seal products, particularly by studying the possibility of using these products in the making of the Canadian Olympic clothing." The motion was proposed by Raynald Blais of the Bloc Québécois in protest of the European Parliament's passing of a bill to ban the import of seal products. Canadian Olympic Committee chief executive officer Chris Rudge quickly dismissed the idea, saying "It would be inappropriate for us and I think it would be inappropriate to use the athletes as a voice for issues that accrue to other elements to our society."
Own the Podium program
After Canadian athletes failed to obtain a gold medal in either the 1976 or 1988 Olympics, of which Canada were hosts, the Canadian Olympic Committee pledged to make Canada the top medal winning nation at 2010. They started the Own the Podium program and the Canadian government invested $120 million into the program.
Hockey uniform controversy Since 1994, Canadian national hockey team players have worn uniforms that feature the logo of Hockey Canada, the governing body of the sport in Canada. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) does not allow the use of national federation logos, but did not strictly enforce the rule until the 2008 Summer Olympics. Canadian hockey teams used the Hockey Canada logo at the 1998, 2002 and 2006 Winter Olympics, because the IOC does allow an exemption if the nation's National Olympic Committee approves. The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) chose not to support an exemption. Chris Rudge, the COCs chief executive officer, said "[Hockey Canada] is discontent is that we're not going the extra mile to go for an exemption for [them] ... but it's not our fight, it's the IOC's rule, and Hockey Canada knew this was coming. [...] We got directives on the summer uniforms two years ago, and we shared it then with the winter sports. We told them we didn't have the directives for winter sports at that time, but they had to know it was coming. … We let them know it would be a harder issue than before." Hockey Canada executives, concerned that they would lose money through apparel sales, unsuccessfully protested the decision. Bob Nicholson, president of Hockey Canada, said "The COC is supposed to lead Canada into the Olympics and hopefully this isn't the way the COC is going to lead us over the next 13 months. [...] I just wish they would support us at the IOC level and they did not do that and I don't like that type of teammate." A new design was unveiled on 17 August 2009. According to Nicholson, the new jerseys will only be used in the 2010 tournament, and players will use the old version at other international tournaments.
Alpine skiing
The Canadian alpine skiing team is guaranteed 14 athletes, which is down from the original 22 (the maximum number a NOC may enter). The International Ski Federation (FIS) announced that the number of overall alpine skiers would be limited to 320, and that some of the guaranteed spots would go to smaller nations, so that there will be a more international field. Canada was originally guaranteed 14 skiers, although the number was later raised to 18, and can still enter a full team of 22 if other athletes meet the qualification standards. Gary Allan, president of Alpine Canada, felt that Canada should be allowed 22, arguing that television coverage and crowd reception will be better. Canada was allowed a team of 19 skiers, which was announced on 27 January 2010. That number was later increased to 22 when other nations were unable to fill their quotas.
Prior to the announcement of the team, several athletes thought to be medal contenders were injured severely enough to keep them out of the Olympics, including 2009 world downhill champion John Kucera, Kelly VanderBeek, François Bourque and Jean-Philippe Roy.
Men AthleteEventRun 1 (DH)Run 2 (Sl)Final/TotalTimeDiffRankTimeDiffRankTimeDiffRankPatrick BiggsGiant slalom1:21.71+4.44441:23.12+2.97322:44.83+7.0035Julien CousineauSlalom49.59+1.801951.07+0.3421:40.66+1.348Robbie DixonSuper-GDNFDownhillDNFGiant slalom1:19.20+1.93281:21.78+1.63222:40.98+3.1524Jeffrey FrischErik GuaySuper-G1:30.68+0.345Downhill1:54.64+0.335Giant slalom1:19.38+2.11291:20.55+0.1022:39.63+1.8016Louis-Pierre HélieSuper combined1:56.58+3.433155.00+4.24302:51.58+6.6630Jan HudecSuper-G1:32.09+1.75T23Downhill1:56.19+1.8825Michael JanykSuper combined1:59.75+6.604355.00+4.24302:51.58+6.6630Slalom49.18+1.391151.91+1.18111:41.09+1.7713Tyler NellaSuper combined1:56.60+3.453256.05+5.29332:52.65+7.7332Manuel Osborne-ParadisSuper-GDNFDownhill1:55.44+1.1317Ryan SempleSuper combined1:56.13+2.982652.13+1.37162:48.26+3.3415Brad SpenceGiant slalom1:20.61+3.34371:25.63+5.48472:46.24+8.4142SlalomDNFdid not advanceTrevor WhiteSlalom49.53+1.741757.64+6.91371:47.17+7.8531
Women AthleteEventRun 1 (DH)Run 2 (Sl)Final/TotalTimeDiffRankTimeDiffRankTimeDiffRankBrigitte ActonSlalom52.11+1.361153.82+1.90211:45.93+3.0417Emily BrydonDownhill1:47.88+3.6916Super combined1:26.49+2.331546.27+2.58172:12.76+3.6214Super-GDNFMarie-Michèle GagnonSlalom55.64+4.894253.87+1.95231:49.51+6.6231Giant slalom1:17.41+2.29231:11.48+0.3352:28.89+1.7821Anna GoodmanSlalom53.01+2.262253.03+1.11111:46.04+3.1519Britt JanykDownhill1:46.21+2.026Super-G1:22.89+2.7517Giant slalom1:18.13+3.01291:11.66+0.5182:29.79+2.6825Erin MielzynskiSlalom52.60+1.851953.49+1.57181:46.09+3.2020Marie-Pier PréfontaineGiant slalom1:18.01+2.89271:12.50+1.35232:30.51+3.4029Shona RubensDownhill1:48.53+4.3421Super combined1:26.90+2.741745.68+1.99132:12.58+3.4412Super-GDNFGiant slalom1:17.38+2.26221:12.87+1.72262:30.25+3.1428Georgia SimmerlingDownhillDNSSuper combinedDNSSuper-G1:25.21+5.0727
Biathlon
Canada sent eight biathletes to Vancouver. Canada had four individual entries in women's events but only one individual entry in men's events. However, as the host nation Canada was allowed to send a men's relay team. The men's team comprised Jean Philippe Leguellec, Marc-André Bédard, Brendan Green and Robin Clegg. The women's team, meanwhile, comprised Zina Kocher, Megan Imrie, Megan Tandy and Rosanna Crawford.
AthleteEventFinalTimeMissesRankJean Philippe LeguellecMen's individual50:47.1213Men's sprint24:57.626Men's pursuit34:51.9211Men's mass start39:18.5730Robin CleggMarc-André BédardBrendan GreenJean-Philippe LeguellecMen's relay1:24:50.70+79Rosanna CrawfordWomen's individual49:22.1476Women's sprint23:04.6072Megan ImrieWomen's individual47:05.8462Women's sprint23:17.0376Zina KocherWomen's individual48:19.3672Women's sprint22:35.8365Megan TandyWomen's individual 46:04.3350Women's sprint22:07.7046Women's pursuit34:02.2136Megan ImrieZina KocherRosanna CrawfordMegan TandyWomen's relay1:14:25.51+1215
Bobsleigh
As the host nation, Canada was guaranteed an entry in all three events (two-man, two-woman and four-man). Canada's full 12 athlete team was announced on 27 January 2010. AthleteEventRun 1Run 2Run 3Run 4TotalTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankPierre LuedersJesse LumsdenTwo-man51.94752.12551.87451.9453:27.875Lyndon RushLascelles BrownTwo-man51.67354.702351.93652.1683:30.4615Kaillie HumphriesHeather MoyseTwo-woman53.19153.01152.85153.2323:32.28Helen UppertonShelley-Ann BrownTwo-woman53.50553.12353.34353.1713:33.13Lyndon RushLascelles BrownChris Le BihanDavid BissettFour-man51.12251.03251.24251.4623:24.85Pierre LuedersJustin KrippsJesse LumsdenNeville WrightFour-man51.27651.29651.50551.5443:25.605
Cross-country skiing
The 11 athlete team was announced on 22 January 2010. The team consisted of Ivan Babikov, George Grey, Alex Harvey, Devon Kershaw, Stefan Kuhn, Brian McKeever, 2006 gold medalist Chandra Crawford, Daria Gaiazova, Perianne Jones, 2006 silver medalist Sara Renner and Madeleine Williams. Brian McKeever, who is legally blind, competed at the 2002 and 2006 Winter Paralympics in both cross-country skiing and biathlon. He won four gold medals (two at each Games) in cross-country skiing as well as a silver and a bronze in biathlon. He would have been the first athlete in Olympic history ever to compete in the Winter Olympics after participating in the Paralympics. Four more cross-country skiers were announced on 27 January 2010: Drew Goldsack, Brent McMurtry, Gordon Jewett and Brittany Webster.Four more cross-country skiers join Canadian team for Vancouver Games, The Canadian Press, 27 January 2010.
MenCross-country Schedule and Results , Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games official website AthleteEventQualificationQuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinalTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankIvan Babikov15 km freestyle34:30.0830 km pursuit1:15:20.5550 km classic2:10:50.233Drew GoldsackSprint3:44.2840did not qualify40George Grey15 km freestyle35:13.02930 km pursuit1:15:32.0850 km classic2:06:18.118Alex Harvey15 km freestyle34:55.62130 km pursuit1:15:43.0950 km classic2:10:49.932Gordon Jewett15 km freestyle36:17.952Devon KershawSprint3:40.5024 Q3:39.95did not qualify2330 km pursuit1:16:23.61650 km classic2:05:37.15Stefan KuhnSprint3:38.3510 Q3:37.43did not qualify15Brian McKeeverBrent McMurtrySprint3:45.0241did not qualify41Devon Kershaw, Alex HarveyTeam sprint18:49.24 LL19:07.34Devon Kershaw, Alex Harvey, Ivan Babikov, George Grey4 x 10 km relay1:47:03.27
Women