Olympic track cycling champion Kelsey Mitchell has returned to the sport due to the presence of a new velodrome in her local area. After participating in bobsled for Canada at the Milan Cortina Games in February, the 32-year-old from Sherwood Park, Alberta, is now back on two wheels at the recently opened Alberta Velodrome in Edmonton, located within the new $153 million Coronation Park Sports and Recreation Centre. This facility houses one of only three 250-meter indoor UCI-sanctioned tracks in Canada, with the Milton velodrome in Ontario serving as the national team’s primary training center.
In addition, the Centre National De Cyclisme was finalized in Bromont, Quebec, in 2022. Mitchell, who clinched Olympic sprint gold for women in Tokyo in 2021, initially entered the sport four years earlier through RBC Training Ground without owning a bike. Following an eighth-place finish in Paris in 2024, she explored speedskating before transitioning to bobsleigh, where she and pilot Melissa Lotholz finished 13th in the women’s bobsled event in Cortina, Italy.
Seeking a better balance and environment, Mitchell returned to track cycling at the Edmonton velodrome, which she credits for rekindling her passion for the sport. The proximity of the hardwood track, just a 30-minute drive from her home, allows her to remain close to family and friends in Sherwood Park, a factor she values greatly after being away for seven years. To enhance her performance, Mitchell underwent a platelet-rich plasma injection to address a longstanding leg issue and is now focused on meeting the national standard time by August 31 to secure a spot on the Canadian team.
Expressing gratitude for the community support in Edmonton and the inclusive nature of the facility, Mitchell looks forward to potential participation in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, which would mark her fourth Olympic appearance within a seven-year span. Notably, five bobsledders, including Mitchell, are among the 14 Canadian athletes who have competed in both Winter and Summer Olympic Games. The Coronation Park Sports and Recreation Centre, integrated with the Peter Hemingway Aquatic Centre, serves as a hub for both elite and recreational athletes, embodying Mitchell’s vision of promoting track cycling and fostering sports participation in Canada.
