Olympic Mode: Activated in Milano

Greetings from Milan!

I touched down in Italy mid-morning on Tuesday, and the past 36 hours have been a full sprint. The Olympics haven’t even officially started yet, but the energy here is already dialled all the way up.

Day one was all about getting oriented and setting the stage. I checked in at the Main Press Centre (MPC), then headed to the Milano Ice Skating Arena—home to short track speed skating and figure skating once the Games get underway.

Leonardo da Vinci’s *The Last Supper*, at Cenacolo Vinciano, Milano. (PHOTO: Greg Kolz)

Tuesday evening, I was able to fit in a bit of sightseeing. I toured the Cenacolo Vinciano to see Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper, then wandered through Piazza del Duomo and the stunning Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II as Milan buzzed around me.

Milan Cathedral (Duomo di Milano) on a wet winter’s evening in Milano. (PHOTO: Greg Kolz)

Wednesday marked a big shift: cameras out, finally. After my first visit to the Milano Speed Skating Stadium, I photographed the Canadian women’s hockey team as they practiced at the Milano Rho Arena ahead of their tournament opener. From there, it was across town to the Milano Ice Skating Arena to capture our short track team flying around the ice in their wicked new skinsuits.

Team selfie, Olympic edition. (PHOTO: Greg Kolz)

Speed, skill, and skinsuits—Canada’s short track team is locked and loaded. (PHOTO: Greg Kolz)

This morning started early with another trip to the speed skating oval, where several of our long track skaters were logging laps ahead of competition, which begins Saturday. Watching—and hearing—them blast past at full speed was a vivid reminder of just how elite these athletes are. The session also gave me a chance to test new shooting techniques and lock in vantage points before race day chaos begins.

Smooth, strong, and skating fast—Olympic dreams taking shape on the oval. (PHOTO: Greg Kolz)

On Friday, the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games officially kick off with the Opening Ceremony at San Siro Stadium at 8:00 p.m. local time (2:00 p.m. ET). I’m excited to share that I’ve been accredited to photograph the event and can’t wait to bring you images from inside the stadium.

Hanging out at the Milano Speed Skating Arena ahead of the Milano Cortina 2025 Olympic Winter Games. (PHOTO: Alain Brouillette)

More soon. Thanks, as always, for following along—and for the continued support and encouragement.

— Greg

Milano Cortina 2026

I’m off to Italy to photograph the MilanoCortina2026 Olympic Winter Games!

This will be my 4th Olympics, following Vancouver 2010, PyeongChang 2018, and Beijing 2022. Photographing Canada’s top athletes on the world’s biggest stage is a privilege I never take for granted.

Huge thanks to Speed Skating Canada for trusting me to document our short track and long track skaters, and to Team Canada for making this opportunity possible.

Grateful as well to my colleagues at Croplife Canada for their support in allowing me to step away from my day job to chase this dream.

Big shout-out to the uOttawa Gee-Gees for their continued encouragement, and Sony Canada for keeping me fully geared up for the Games.

Most importantly, thank you to my mom, sister, girlfriend, family, and friends—none of this happens without you.

Let the Games begin! 🇨🇦

(Photo: Sean Sisk Photography)

A Tribute to Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir

Recently, Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir announced their retirement from the sport of ice dance. In the days since, many articles have been written about the Canadian figure skaters whose on-ice partnership and off-ice friendship has spanned the past 22 years.

As someone who has had the pleasure and privilege of getting to know Tessa & Scott over the past several years, I too would like to share a few thoughts about this legendary duo.

With Glowing Hearts

Back in 2010, I served as a volunteer at the Vancouver Olympics and had the good fortune of attending more than 30 events throughout the course of the Games.

Unfortunately, I was not at the Pacific Coliseum on the final day of the ice dance competition, so I can’t claim to have witnessed Virtue & Moir’s historic gold medal performance in person.

Nevertheless, I had the pleasure of watching them skate in the Olympic Gala and later had a chance to congratulate them on their remarkable achievement when we crossed paths at the Vancouver airport following the Games.

When I first met Tessa & Scott, I was immediately struck by how gracious they were. At the time, I never could have imagined that I’d eventually go on to form a friendship with the pair and have the opportunity to document some of their most memorable accomplishments in the years that followed.

Combining Artistry & Athleticism

As a kid, I wasn’t an especially gifted athlete, but I loved staying active. That said, while most boys my age played organized sports like hockey, I took a slightly different approach by taking dance lessons instead.

Looking back on it now, I realize that much of my appreciation for figure skating, and ice dance in particular, stems from the nearly 15 years that I spent doing ballet, tap and jazz.

Dancers are not only trained to develop their strength and stamina, but also become skilled at expressing themselves through movement, and captivating the audience by making difficult maneuvers look effortless. Of course, the same can be said of competitive figure skaters.

In all my life, I’ve never seen anyone combine artistry and athleticism more perfectly than Virtue & Moir.

Making History

Since 2010, I’ve witnessed Tessa & Scott prepare for and compete at multiple events, including the ISU World Figure Skating Championships, the Canadian National Skating Championships, the Autumn Classic International, and the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games. I’ve also had the pleasure of watching them perform several times with Stars on Ice, the CNE, and The Thank You Canada Tour.

Like anyone who’s ever seen Tessa & Scott skate, I’ve always been in complete awe of their athletic abilities, their artistic talents, and their undeniable chemistry as a pair. Being rink-side when they won gold in PyeongChang was an almost spiritual experience.

As a photographer, it’s been exhilarating to document these performances, but the truth is, most of the credit for the resulting images is owed to the skaters themselves. As I often say, I just press a button; the athletes do all the work.

Setting the Stage

It’s very hard to describe the feeling of being in such close proximity to someone (or, in this case, a duo) who is quite literally the best in the world at what they do.

While millions of people have had the opportunity to watch Tessa & Scott compete, relatively few have had the chance to see first-hand all the hard work that goes into each of their performances.

As someone who has been offered this rare glimpse behind the scenes, I must say, watching Tessa & Scott practice is every bit as inspiring as watching them compete. Every movement has a purpose, every stroke is executed in perfect unison, and every lift seems to defy the laws of physics.

Pursuing Excellence

In recent years, I’ve often been asked what Virtue & Moir are like in person. For those who may be wondering, I can honestly say, without reservation or exaggeration, that Tessa & Scott are two of the nicest, most genuine people I’ve ever met.

Tessa is beautifully poised, brilliantly smart, and incredibly thoughtful. Scott is wickedly funny, extremely down-to-earth, and unfailingly supportive. Together, they possess a synergy that is as impressive as it is rare.

From the very first time that I met them until now, I have always been inspired by their unified and relentless pursuit of excellence.

Recognizing Greatness

In conclusion, I simply want to congratulate Tessa & Scott on a truly remarkable figure skating career and wish them continued success in their future endeavors.

I would also like to express my sincerest thanks to the pair for entrusting me to photograph them on and off the ice on so many special occasions. I cannot tell you what an honour it’s been.

Throughout their 22-year on-ice partnership, Tessa & Scott transcended their sport, and I have no doubt that they will each continue to make a significant and meaningful difference in the lives of everyone they cross paths with. Best of luck, you two!