Winnipegger speaks out on missing trip to second Olympics by a fraction of a second
Posted February 9, 2026 5:32 pm.
Last Updated February 9, 2026 5:36 pm.
Tyson Langelaar came within 0.07 seconds of making it to his second Olympics. The Winnipeg-born speed skater, who competed in the 2022 games, needed a second-place finish in his qualifying to make it to Milan, but finished third by those agonizing 0.07 seconds.
“My heart just sank, because I was like, I literally thought I was going to the Olympics for the last 30 seconds of that race,” said Langelaar.
Langelaar was leading his 1,500 metre Olympic trials heading into the last pairing, but all he could do was watch as the final two skaters attempted to beat his time. When they finished, he wasn’t sure if he had pulled it off or not.
“I didn’t remember what my time was, so then I remember looking from one leader board to the one in the middle of the track, and on the way over, when I was looking, I just saw my coach, and his head was just like this … just like, in defeat,” he explained.
He says coming so close is difficult to process, especially after the four years of intense training and preparation while battling injuries, beginning right after he competed in the 2022 games, but he’s trying to have a positive perspective on this journey.
“The last four years leading into this trials, it felt a lot harder to kind of get through every season, I don’t know if that’s age being a factor, or just years in sport, but I think in the last four years I’ve really learned a lot about myself and how to prep both physically and mentally and enjoy the journey a bit more,” said Langelaar.
But it isn’t all bad for Langelaar; he says he’s still cheering on Team Canada. In fact, his girlfriend, Brooklyn McDougall, did qualify for the games in the women’s 500m.
“I’m going to Milan to go watch her this Thursday actually, so it’ll be bitter sweet for me but I’m super excited to go support her.”
As for what’s next, the former Olympian says he isn’t ruling out taking another crack at it in 2030.
“I would love to because I think also competing in France in 2030, in Canada, would be another dream of mind, so yeah, we’ll see though,” said Langelaar.
