Paralympic Champ Mollie Jepsen Heads to Third Games

After years of fierce focus and personal challenges, Paralympic champion Mollie Jepsen is returning to the world's biggest stage with a new mindset: she's going to enjoy every moment.

The Whistler athlete was named Monday to Canada's eight-member para alpine ski team for Milano Cortina 2026. She'll serve as co-captain alongside Alexis Guimond, leading a squad that blends returning veterans with fresh talent.

Jepsen's journey to this third Games hasn't been easy. "The last few years have been some of the most difficult I've ever experienced," she shared in a press release.

But something shifted after she achieved her lifelong dream of winning Paralympic gold in downhill at Beijing 2022. The six-time Paralympic medalist and three-time Crystal Globe winner realized she'd been so laser-focused on winning that she'd forgotten to appreciate the journey itself.

"I want to enjoy these Games and the experience," Jepsen said. "I want to be present and take everything in."

Her co-captain Guimond brings his own impressive credentials: two Paralympic medals and a freshly-earned Globe. "I'm going into these Games with confidence, focus, experience and grit," he said, expressing his honor at representing both country and teammates.

The team includes returning Beijing athletes Michaela Gosselin and Brian Rowland, plus Paralympic newcomers Florence Carrier, Kalle Eriksson, and guide Sierra Smith. Together, they're carrying forward Canada's strongest Paralympic tradition.

Why This Inspires

Alpine skiing represents Canada's most successful Paralympic sport, with 115 medals dating back to 1976. The team earned six medals in Beijing and 10 at Pyeongchang 2018, proving that excellence runs deep in this program.

But what makes this story truly special isn't just the medals. It's watching an elite athlete learn that the journey matters as much as the destination.

Jepsen's evolution from win-at-all-costs competitor to mindful champion shows genuine growth. She's still aiming high, but she's also giving herself permission to appreciate where she is right now.

Retired Paralympic captain Mac Marcoux, who considers this team his second family, captured the excitement perfectly: he can't wait to cheer them on "loud and proud" from the finish area in Cortina.

The Games begin March 7, and this time, one champion will be racing with her eyes wide open to all the moments in between.