Canadian Olympic Luge Team Named for Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games
CALGARY (January 25, 2026) — Luge Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) have announced the roster of Team Canada luge athletes selected to compete at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.
The athletes qualified for Team Canada based on their performances across the Olympic Qualification window. Canada qualified two women’s singles athletes, a women’s doubles sled and a men’s doubles sled.
The six athletes are:
Trinity Ellis (Pemberton, B.C.) – Women’s Singles
Embyr-Lee Susko (Whistler, B.C.) – Women’s Singles
Kailey Allan (Calgary, Alta.) – Women’s Doubles
Beattie Podulsky (Calgary, Alta.) – Women’s Doubles
Devin Wardrope (Calgary, Alta.) – Men’s Doubles
Cole Zajanski (Calgary, Alta.) – Men’s Doubles
Trinity Ellis will lead a new generation of Canadian luge athletes that features five first-time Olympic team members who are determined to deliver personal-best performances at the Games. Ellis, who contributed to the sixth-place finish in the mixed team relay following a 14th place finish in the women’s singles race at Beijing 2022 is looking forward to competing at her second Olympic Games.
“It’s incredibly special to be heading to my second Olympics, it still seems a bit surreal,” said Ellis. “It’s such an honour to represent Canada at the Games, and I’m really excited to share this experience with the team we have going. It takes a village, and I’m grateful for everyone who has helped me get there.”
One of the youngest athletes on the team, Embyr-Lee Susko, is also one of the fastest. Susko has steadily been chasing the world’s best luge athletes while challenging herself to be faster. Her progress was on full display in 2025 when she finished fourth at the FIL Luge World Championships on home ice at the Whistler Sliding Centre. One day later the 19-year-old led Team Canada to a bronze-medal finish in the mixed relay.
Women’s doubles luge will make its debut at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Games where Calgarians Kailey Allan and Beattie Podulsky will represent Team Canada. Competing in their first major international race one year ago, the two played a critical role in Team Canada’s unexpected bronze-medal triumph at the 2025 FIL Luge World Championships in the mixed relay on home ice at the Whistler Sliding Centre. The duo has been steadily progressing up the international ranks since.
Canada will also field one sled in the men’s doubles race.
After sliding just short of qualifying for Beijing 2022, Devin Wardrope and Cole Zajanski will finally realize their Olympic dream in Italy. Canada’s top sled is mixing it up with the world’s best in the sport. The two were also part of Canada’s bronze-medal winning relay team at the 2025 FIL Luge World Championships in Whistler, and regularly sliding into the top-15 on the World Cup.
“It is amazing to be named to Team Canada. This season has been filled with uncertainty, after dislocating my elbow twice I was all but sure that my Olympic dreams were over,” said Wardrope. “But the team gave me hope that there was still a way to come back from it. We put together a rehab plan that would get my shoulder stronger and were able to get back on the sled in early January and meet the qualifying criteria. I’m just super grateful for my coaches, family and friends for helping me get to this point. I’m just setting my eyes forward to put down the best performance I can get at the Games.”
Luge will take place February 7 – 12 (Days 1 – 6), at the Cortina Sliding Centre.
“This team of Olympic luge athletes represents the strength and development of our program in Canada,” said Sam Edney, high-performance director, Luge Canada. “While they’re a young group, they’ve all proven themselves at every stage of their progression and shown they can compete and deliver results internationally. We’re extremely proud of the work they’ve put in and I look forward to seeing them perform on the ultimate stage at the Olympic Games.”
Team Canada has won two Olympic luge medals – both coming in PyeongChang 2018. Alex Gough won a bronze in women’s singles. Gough, Sam Edney, Tristan Walker and Justin Snith teamed up to win the silver in the relay.
“I am thrilled to congratulate the luge athletes named to the Canadian Olympic Team today,” said Jennifer Heil, Team Canada’s Milano Cortina 2026 Chef de Mission. “This will be an incredibly special few weeks in Cortina for these athletes, who for all but one, will experience their first Olympic Winter Games. With young veteran Trinity leading this dynamic and ambitious luge team, Canadians from coast to coast to coast will be cheering you on as you fly down the track, making us all proud along the way. Congratulations and enjoy the moment.”
Team Canada’s luge athletes for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games will be supported by the following coaches and staff:
Robert Fegg – Head Coach
Duncan Kenney – Coach
Tim Neenan – Strength and Conditioning Coach
Sam Edney – Team Leader
Prior to being named to Team Canada, all nominations are subject to approval by the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Team Selection Committee following its receipt of nominations by all National Sport Organizations.
The latest Team Canada roster can be found here and the qualification tracker can be found here.
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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Chris Dornan
Luge Canada
C: 403-620-8731
E: hpprchris@shaw.ca
Tara MacBournie, Team Canada Milano Cortina 2026 Sport Communications Lead
Canadian Olympic Committee
C: 647-522-8328
E: tmacbournie@olympic.ca