Tag: Olympics

The Pursuit of Excellence

In the lead-up to the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, I reached out to six of Canada’s top winter athletes with a simple but meaningful request: permission to photograph them during their training. My goal was to look beyond polished competition images and capture the unseen hours—the discipline, focus, and sacrifice that define the Olympic journey. Without hesitation, each athlete agreed, generously allowing me to spend several hours with them in their training environments and granting rare access to their daily routines.

Canadian hockey player Marie-Philip Poulin training at the Verdun Auditorium in preparation for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games. (PHOTO: Greg Kolz)


Kim Boutin and Steven Dubois welcomed me to the Maurice Richard Arena in Montreal, where their short track training unfolded in intense, purposeful bursts. From meticulous warm-ups to high-speed repetitions, the session revealed the resilience and discipline required to perform in a sport where every fraction of a second matters. Being on the ice with them offered an unfiltered look at the hard work that fuels their success.

Canadian short track speed skater Kim Boutin training at the Maurice Richard Arena in Montreal, in preparation for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games. (PHOTO: Greg Kolz)
Canadian short track speed skater Steven Dubois training at the Maurice Richard Arena in Montreal, in preparation for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games. (PHOTO: Greg Kolz)


At the Scarboro Figure Skating Club, Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier opened the doors to their ice dance training. Their time on the ice was a blend of athletic precision and artistic expression—repeating elements, refining timing, and building connection through constant collaboration. These sessions highlighted the courage it takes to push creative and technical limits, season after season.

Canadian ice dancers Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier training at the Scarboro Figure Skating Club in preparation for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games. (PHOTO: Greg Kolz)


At the Verdun Auditorium, Marie-Philip Poulin and Laura Stacey invited me to witness their dryland on on-ice training sessions. Away from the noise of competition, the focus was on strength, conditioning, and mental preparation. The intensity and commitment on display reflected not only their individual drive, but also the leadership and determination that have defined their careers.

Canadian hockey players Marie-Philip Poulin and Laura Stacey training at the Verdun Auditorium in preparation for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games. (PHOTO: Greg Kolz)


It is incredibly special—and deeply humbling—to witness athletes who are literally the best in the world at what they do, quietly honing their craft through relentless discipline and determination, long before the spotlight arrives. In those unguarded moments, you see how the pursuit of excellence is built through repetition, sacrifice, and belief.

Through my camera, I aimed to document these moments as authentically as possible—capturing dedication in its rawest form. I am deeply grateful for the trust each athlete placed in me and for the openness with which they shared their preparation.


In just a few days from now, when these athletes step onto the Olympic stage in Italy, they will carry more than personal ambition with them. Canadians from coast to coast to coast will be cheering them on, inspired by their courage, resilience, and unwavering determination.

I sincerely hope you enjoy viewing these images as much as I enjoyed capturing them. Please join me in wishing Kim, Steven, Piper, Paul, Marie-Philip, and Laura—and all of Team Canada—the very best of luck as they take on the world in Milan. 🇨🇦

Counting Down to Beijing 2022

Photo: Sean Sisk

As the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games fast approach, I figure now is as good a time as any to dust off the old website and start blogging again.

It’s hard to believe that it’s been four years since PyeongChang 2018. Memories of Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir wowing the crowd with their legendary Moulin Rouge free dance, Kim Boutin bursting onto the scene and earning three medals in Short Track, and Team Canada racking up an astonishing 29 medals overall, remain incredibly vivid in my mind.

As the COVID-19 global pandemic nears the two-year mark, the hope is that the upcoming Winter Games will once again give us all something to cheer about. There is no doubt that these Olympics will be much different than previous ones, but I am equally certain that Canada’s top winter athletes will once again amaze and inspire us with their remarkable performances.

In just ten days, I will be heading overseas to serve as Skate Canada and Speed Skating Canada’s official photographer throughout the Olympics. I am absolutely thrilled at the prospect of witnessing and capturing so many memorable moments and sharing these with you along the way.

Of course, everything hinges on me staying healthy between now and January 27th, when I’m scheduled to depart for China. Testing positive for COVID-19 in the next week and a half would automatically spell an end to the adventure, so needless to say, I’m doing everything I can to avoid catching the virus.

Olympic events are set to begin on February 2nd. The Team Figure Skating competition will kick-off two days later, on February 4th, just a few hours before the Cauldron is lit during the Opening Ceremony at Beijing National Stadium.

If all goes according to plan, I will be covering an average of two events a day, for 17 consecutive days. In other words, there’ll be no shortage of action and excitement. Since I’m no elite athlete, I should probably reach out to Olympic Champion Decathlete Damian Warner for tips on how to maintain my stamina from start to finish.

Four years ago, I posted a blog entry every couple of days chronicling my adventures throughout the Games. I’m not sure if that will be possibile this time around, but I’ll certainly do my best to provide updates when I can. If nothing else, I would encourage you to follow Skate Canada and Speed Skating Canada’s socials to see some of my photos along the way.

In the meantime, I want to sincerely thank all those who have offered me their support and encouragement in the lead-up to the Olympics. The texts, emails, and phone calls I’ve received from family and friends over the past few weeks have been very much appreciated. I’m especially grateful to those who have gone out of their way to deliver food and other essential items to me while I’ve been in self-isolation lately.

After more than a year of preparation and anticipation, the countdown to Beijing is nearing single digits. Something tells me the fun is just getting started, so please stay tuned!

~ Greg