Speedskater Carolina Hiller-Donnelly at the women's 1,000 metre race in Milan, Italy in Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (Image Credit: Greg Kolz/Speed Skating Canada)

By Victor Kaisar

Olympic Dreams

PG’s Carolina Hiller-Donnelly wraps up competition in debut Olympics

Feb 15, 2026 | 1:09 PM

MILAN — Prince George’s Carolina Hiller-Donnelly has crossed the finish line in her debut appearance at the Winter Olympics.

The 28-year-old long-track speedskater finished 21st in the women’s 500 metre race with a time of 38.38 seconds. She was 1.89 seconds back of Femke Kok of the Netherlands, who won gold with an Olympic record time of 36.49 seconds.

Dutch speedskater Jutta Leerdam won silver (37.15) while Miho Takagi of Japan (37.27) won bronze.

Hiller-Donnelly, the two-time world champion team sprinter, also finished 26th in the women’s 1,000 metre race on Monday (Feb. 9) with a time of 1:17.156. She was 4.84 seconds back of Leerdam who won gold with an Olympic record time of 1:13.31.

Kok was second (1:12.59) while Takagi (1:13.95) won bronze.

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Snowboard cross racer Evan Bichon, who is from Mackenzie but attended school in Prince George, placed 17th in the men’s event, while Colby Graham served as an alternate on the men’s team.

Fellow snowboard cross athletes Meryeta O’Dine – a two-time bronze medalist at the 2022 games – and Tess Critchlow both withdrew from competition due to injury. O’Dine fractured her ankle during a training session, while Critchlow withdrew ahead of the games.

Prince George’s Gavin Rowell has yet to compete in men’s ski cross. His event is scheduled for Feb. 21, the second last day of competition in Italy.

Like Hiller-Donnelly, this is the first Olympic experience for both Bichon and Rowell, and it would have been the third time around for both O’Dine and Critchlow.

Also in Italy, Prince George-born-and-raised Jon Cooper is 3-0 as head coach of the Canadian men’s hockey team. Canada beat Czechia 5-0, Switzerland 5-1, and France 10-2 to top Group A with a +17 goal differential.