A fresh velodrome in her local area has enticed Olympic track cycling champion Kelsey Mitchell back into the sport. Following her bobsled competition for Canada at the Milan Cortina Games in February, the 32-year-old from Sherwood Park, Alberta, has returned to cycling on the newly opened Alberta Velodrome in Edmonton’s Coronation Park Sports and Recreation Centre, a $153 million facility inaugurated in January. This velodrome is one of only three 250-meter indoor UCI-sanctioned tracks in Canada, with the Milton velodrome in Ontario being the national team’s primary training hub, constructed for the 2015 Pan American Games.
The completion of the Centre National De Cyclisme in Bromont, Quebec, in 2022 marked another milestone. Mitchell, who clinched the women’s Olympic sprint gold in Tokyo in 2021, initially ventured into the sport four years prior through RBC Training Ground, despite not owning a bike at the time. Following an eighth-place finish in Paris in 2024, Mitchell felt mentally and physically drained. However, rather than giving up on high-performance athletics, she explored speedskating before realizing her leg strength was better suited for bobsleigh.
Teaming up with pilot Melissa Lotholz from Barrhead, Alberta, Mitchell secured 13th place in the women’s bobsled event in Cortina, Italy. Seeking a more balanced environment upon her return to track cycling, Mitchell highlighted the benefits of the Edmonton velodrome, which is just a 30-minute journey from her home in Sherwood Park. The proximity allows her to maintain connections with her family and friends, fostering a sense of community and support crucial for her athletic journey.
Expressing her gratitude for the Edmonton facility, Mitchell acknowledged the positive impact of being surrounded by loved ones and witnessing a mix of elite and recreational athletes at the venue. She also underwent a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection in April to address an ongoing issue in her left leg. With aspirations of meeting the national standard time on August 31 to secure a spot on the Canadian team, Mitchell remains determined to pursue her athletic goals, potentially becoming a four-time Olympian by competing in Los Angeles in 2028.
Her enthusiasm for the sport’s growth in Canada is evident as she appreciates the exposure and opportunities the new velodrome brings to the public. Mitchell’s journey reflects the evolving landscape of sports infrastructure in the country, with the increasing availability of facilities like the Alberta Velodrome providing a platform for aspiring athletes and enthusiasts alike to engage with track cycling.
