Paralympic Champion Mollie Jepsen Heads to Third Games

Mollie Jepsen has learned that the climb to the top can teach you just as much as standing on the podium.

The Whistler skiing star was named to Canada's eight-member para alpine team for the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Games on Monday. Jepsen will serve as co-captain alongside Alexis Guimond, leading a squad that blends veteran champions with fresh talent ready to make their Paralympic debuts.

For Jepsen, these Games feel different. After achieving her lifelong dream of winning Paralympic downhill gold in Beijing 2022, she's approaching Milano Cortina with a perspective shift that comes from hard-earned wisdom.

"The last few years have been some of the most difficult I've ever experienced," Jepsen said. "I want to enjoy these Games and the experience. In the past I've been so narrowly focused on winning I forgot to appreciate all it took to even get to the Games and the accomplishment that is in itself."

The three-time Crystal Globe winner isn't abandoning competition. She's simply learned to balance ambition with gratitude, a lesson many athletes discover only after years of tunnel vision.

Jepsen brings six Paralympic medals to her leadership role. Co-captain Guimond adds two more and recently earned his own Crystal Globe, while teammates Michaela Gosselin and Brian Rowland return from Beijing with valuable experience.

Three Paralympic rookies round out the team: Florence Carrier in women's standing, and Kalle Eriksson with guide Sierra Smith in men's visually impaired events. They join a proud legacy.

Why This Inspires

Alpine skiing represents Canada's most successful Paralympic sport ever. Since 1976, Canadian para alpine skiers have earned 115 medals, proving that excellence builds on itself across generations.

The team claimed six medals in Beijing and ten in Pyeongchang 2018. Each victory creates momentum, showing younger athletes what's possible when talent meets determination.

Retired champion Mac Marcoux, serving as honorary captain, will cheer from the finish area in Cortina. "I truly consider this team a second family," he said, reflecting the tight bonds formed through shared challenges and triumphs.

Jepsen's evolution from gold-obsessed competitor to present-focused athlete shows growth that extends beyond sports. Her willingness to acknowledge difficult years while expressing gratitude demonstrates the resilience that defines Paralympic athletes.

The Milano Cortina para alpine competitions run March 7 through 15, giving these eight Canadians their chance to shine on winter's biggest stage while representing millions who see their own struggles reflected in these remarkable athletes.