A fresh velodrome in her local area has enticed Olympic track cycling champion Kelsey Mitchell to re-engage with the sport. Following her participation for Canada in bobsled at the Milan Cortina Games in February, the 32-year-old from Sherwood Park, Alberta, has returned to cycling at the recently unveiled Alberta Velodrome in Edmonton. The cycling track is housed within the new $153 million Coronation Park Sports and Recreation Centre, which commenced operations in January and is one of only three 250-meter indoor UCI-sanctioned tracks in Canada.
In addition to the Milton velodrome in Ontario, constructed for the 2015 Pan American Games and serving as the national team’s training hub, the Centre National De Cyclisme in Bromont, Quebec, was finalized in 2022. Mitchell, who clinched the women’s Olympic sprint gold in Tokyo in 2021 after being recruited into the sport through RBC Training Ground four years earlier despite not owning a bike initially, expressed feelings of burnout after finishing eighth in Paris in 2024.
In pursuit of a more balanced routine, Mitchell experimented with speedskating before settling on bobsleigh, where she teamed up with pilot Melissa Lotholz from Barrhead, Alberta, to secure 13th place in the women’s bobsled event in Cortina, Italy. Upon returning to track cycling, Mitchell sought a change of scenery and found solace in the Edmonton velodrome, which she believes offers a better work-life balance compared to training solely in Milton.
The proximity of the Edmonton facility, located just 30 minutes from her home in Sherwood Park, allows Mitchell to maintain close ties with her family and friends. Post-Winter Olympics, Mitchell underwent a PRP injection to address a lingering leg issue affecting her power output. She aims to meet the national time standard by August 31 to secure a spot on the Canadian team.
Reflecting on her comeback, Mitchell acknowledges the support from Edmonton and the community while emphasizing her individual journey to rejoin the national team. With aspirations of competing in the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, Mitchell could become a four-time Olympian in a span of seven years, joining a select group of Canadian athletes who have participated in both the Winter and Summer Games. The Coronation Park Sports and Recreation Centre, featuring the integrated Peter Hemingway Aquatic Centre, stands out for Mitchell as a hub where elite and recreational athletes converge, fostering a vibrant sports culture in Alberta and introducing track cycling to a broader audience across Canada.
