Guimond set for third Paralympics in Cortina

Tashi Farmilo

Gatineau para-alpine skier Alexis Guimond has been named to Canada’s team for the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, scheduled for March 6 to 15 in Italy, the Canadian Paralympic Committee and Alpine Canada said February 23.

Guimond will compete at his third consecutive Paralympics in the men’s standing category and serve as co-captain of the Canadian Paralympic Team. He joined the national squad in 2016 and has won a bronze medal at each of his previous Games, in giant slalom at Pyeongchang 2018 and in super-G at Beijing 2022.

The para-alpine events will be held at the Tofane Alpine Ski Centre in Cortina d’Ampezzo, beginning with downhill on March 7 and concluding with slalom on March 15.

Guimond enters the Games following a strong 2025-26 World Cup season. He won his first Crystal Globe as overall champion in men’s super-G, claiming three victories and a bronze in four races. He also secured his first World Cup downhill win in January 2026, reached the podium six times in that discipline and finished second overall behind Switzerland’s Robin Cuche.

“My preparation for Milano Cortina is four years of work, four seasons of work,” Guimond said. “Through those seasons, I gained a lot of experience and matured a lot as an athlete.”

He said that experience has sharpened his approach.

“With my level of experience, I was really able to improve technically and tactically, not just as a skier, but as an athlete and as an individual,” he said. “I’m having a really good season, and I feel confident in training.”

Guimond also won a silver medal in giant slalom at the 2025 World Para Alpine Skiing Championships. Earlier in his career, he earned bronze at the 2017 world championships and recorded Canada’s first World Cup victory in men’s standing giant slalom in 10 years.

At his Paralympic debut in 2018, he became the first Canadian male standing skier in two decades to reach the podium. He also placed fourth in downhill and super-G that year.

In Italy, he said his focus will be on execution rather than medals.

“Yes, I have goals. Yes, I know what a strong performance looks like,” he said. “But I don’t want to focus too much on the result. I really want to focus on the performance itself.”

Guimond called his appointment as co-captain a privilege and said the team arrives in Cortina confident in its preparation.

“As a team, our level of confidence is rising. We’re satisfied with our preparation,” he said. “It’s a golden opportunity to show what we’ve built over the years as a team.”

Born in Houston, Guimond moved to western Quebec at age four and began skiing the same year. An accident at six months old resulted in hemiparesis on his right side. He later suffered a stroke at age 12 that caused partial paralysis on his left side.

He said competing at a third Paralympics remains meaningful.

“It’s a great honour for me,” he said. “I’m proud to represent my country.”

Guimond added that after four years focused on Cortina, he feels ready for March.

“My level of confidence is there. Right now, I’m motivated. I’m hungry,” he said.