Olympic track cycling champion Kelsey Mitchell has returned to the sport thanks to a new velodrome built in her hometown. After participating in bobsled at the Milan Cortina Games earlier this year, the 32-year-old athlete from Sherwood Park, Alberta, is back on her bike at the recently opened Alberta Velodrome in Edmonton. This state-of-the-art cycling track is part of the new $153 million Coronation Park Sports and Recreation Centre, which commenced operations in January. It is one of only three 250-meter indoor UCI-sanctioned tracks in Canada.
In comparison, the Milton velodrome in Ontario, established for the 2015 Pan American Games, serves as the national team’s primary training facility. Additionally, the Centre National De Cyclisme in Bromont, Quebec, was finished in 2022.
Mitchell, who clinched gold in women’s Olympic sprint cycling in Tokyo in 2021, was introduced to 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 experienced burnout but decided to explore speedskating and bobsleigh. After teaming up with pilot Melissa Lotholz to secure the 13th spot in the women’s bobsled event in Cortina, Italy, Mitchell sought a change and balance. This led her back to track cycling, with the Edmonton velodrome offering a more conducive environment for her training.
Expressing her gratitude for the proximity of the Edmonton facility to her home, Mitchell emphasized the importance of being close to family and friends. She also mentioned her desire to address a long-standing leg issue that affected her power output by undergoing a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection before returning to serious cycling training. To secure a spot on the Canadian team, she aims to meet the national standard time by August 31.
Reflecting on her journey and future goals, Mitchell aspires to participate in her fourth Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028, aiming to join the ranks of only 14 Canadian athletes who have competed in both the Winter and Summer Games. She appreciates the inclusive nature of the Coronation Park Sports and Recreation Centre, where elite and recreational athletes coexist, fostering a supportive and engaging environment for all participants.