Jasmine and Rémi Drolet make Team Canada’s 2026 Olympic cross-country ski roster, joining a promising new generation of athletes.
Rossland Siblings Set Sights on Olympic Glory
Two siblings from Rossland, B.C., are taking Canadian cross-country skiing by storm. Jasmine and Rémi Drolet have officially earned their spots on Team Canada for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, Italy, marking one of the country’s most promising Olympic lineups in years.
The dynamic duo secured their Olympic berths at the Nordiq Canada Trials held in Vernon from December 14–16, proving that perseverance and determination pay off—even when the odds feel daunting.
From Setbacks to Success
The journey wasn’t smooth. Their first event, the interval start classic—considered their strongest—didn’t go as planned. Jasmine finished fifth, and Rémi seventh. Their father, Edouard Drolet, recalled feeling disheartened but encouraged them to push forward.
“Just put your heads down and give it your all,” he told them. And give it they did. The very next day, both delivered stellar second-place finishes in the 10-km interval start free skate races, clinching their spots on the national team. Rémi added a third-place finish in the sprint finals, just 0.69 seconds behind first, while Jasmine made the sprint final, placing sixth.
A Family Affair on the World Stage
For 25-year-old Rémi, this marks his second Olympics after competing in Beijing 2022. Jasmine, 23, will make her Olympic debut, building on her success at the 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games and the 2024 FIS U23 World Championships, where she won gold in the mixed relay.
Both siblings overcame personal and physical challenges to reach this milestone. Jasmine bounced back from a serious illness in 2023 to win the women’s 20km mass start classic at the 2024 NCAA Skiing Championships, while Rémi helped secure Canada’s first-ever world championship cross-country relay medal in 2020.
Canada’s Cross-Country Team Looks Strong
Joining the Drolets on Team Canada are seasoned athletes and rising stars like Antoine Cyr, Liliane Gagnon, Max Hollman, Xavier McKeever, and more. Olympic champion Beckie Scott, CEO of Nordiq Canada, praised the team’s balance of experience and youthful energy.
“This is one of the most promising generations of Canadian cross-country skiers we’ve seen in years,” Scott said.
Training for Triumph
As of December 22, the Drolets were en route to Toblach, Italy, to train with Team Canada and compete on the World Cup’s Tour de Ski circuit. Both graduated from prestigious universities—Jasmine from Dartmouth and Rémi from Harvard—and have been training relentlessly in Quebec and Vermont, respectively.
Team Canada’s Chef de Mission Jenn Heil lauded their dedication: “The tenacity, resilience, and incredible training volume required in this sport is nothing short of inspiring. We can’t wait to cheer them on in Italy.”
What’s Next in Milano Cortina
The 2026 Winter Olympics will be historic: men and women will race equal distances, including the 50km mass start. Cross-country skiing events will run February 7–22 at the Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium in Val di Fiemme. For the Drolets, it’s a chance to compete together on the world stage and continue building Canada’s legacy in the sport.
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