A recently constructed velodrome in her neighborhood has reignited Olympic track cycling champion Kelsey Mitchell’s passion for the sport. Following her participation for Canada in bobsled at the Milan Cortina Games in February, the 32-year-old athlete from Sherwood Park, Alberta, has returned to cycling at the new Alberta Velodrome in Edmonton. This cycling track is part of the newly opened $153-million Coronation Park Sports and Recreation Centre, featuring one of three 250-metre indoor UCI-sanctioned tracks in Canada.
The National Cycling Centre was finalized in Bromont, Quebec, in 2022. Mitchell, who clinched the women’s Olympic sprint gold in Tokyo in 2021, delved into cycling after being scouted through RBC Training Ground despite not owning a bike four years prior. After finishing eighth in Paris in 2024, Mitchell felt mentally and physically drained. Experimenting with speedskating, she eventually found her strength better suited for bobsleigh alongside pilot Melissa Lotholz, placing 13th in the women’s bobsled event in Cortina, Italy.
Seeking a change and more equilibrium, Mitchell returned to track cycling in Edmonton’s velodrome, emphasizing the facility’s importance in her comeback. Training three days a week on the hardwood track just a short 30-minute drive from her home, Mitchell appreciates the convenience and the ability to spend time with her family and friends. Following her leg rehabilitation post-Winter Olympics, Mitchell aims to meet the national standard time by August 31 to secure her spot on the Canadian team.
Looking towards potential participation in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Mitchell could become a four-time Olympian within seven years. Notably, of the 14 Canadian athletes who have competed in both Winter and Summer Olympics, five were bobsledders, including Mitchell. The Coronation Park Sports and Recreation Centre, coupled with the Peter Hemingway Aquatic Centre, stands out for Mitchell due to its inclusive environment welcoming elite and recreational athletes alike.
Expressing her enthusiasm for the Alberta-based facility, Mitchell appreciates its altitude advantage and the opportunity to introduce new audiences to track cycling. She believes in the growth potential of sports in Canada, noting the increase in the number of regulation-sized velodromes across the country, from just one to three, providing hope for the future of Canadian athletics.