Canadian short track speed skater Florence Brunelle is now an Olympic medalist who was part of Team Canada’s silver medal win in the mixed team relay at the Winter Games 2026. Born without fingers on the left hand, her performance has gained worldwide attention, highlighting Canada’s skating team’s skillset and adaptability in events like short track.
Brunelle was among the six Canadian speed skaters who were part of the short track mixed relay. Besides getting her country their first silver in the event, her individual victory stands special, adding another Olympic medal to her achievements. Despite the disability, her talents overshadowed and turned her disadvantage into power. Meanwhile, she was also the only Olympic speed skater to compete or win a medal. While performing, the skater wears a custom-made glove that helps her in competing.
Brunelle’s career achievements
Brunelle made her Olympic debut four years back at the 2022 Beijing Olympics and became the youngest-ever to represent Canada in short track speed skating at the age of 18. She was part of the Women’s 3000m relay event in which the team finished in fourth place. In addition to that, she also competed in two other events, the mixed relay and the 500m race.
Previously, at the Lausanne 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games, Brunelle, while representing Canada, won bronze medals in the 500m and 1000m events. With that, she became Canada’s first-ever Olympic medallist competing at the Youth Games. Meanwhile, at the ISU World Junior Championship 2022, Brunelle won junior titles, including three golds in the 500m, 1000m, and 3000m relay, along with eight career medals, including silver in the 500m and 1500m events. The next year, she won her second consecutive junior title in the 500m, while she won two silvers in the 1000m and 1500m.
At the age of 17, she made her senior international debut in the 2021 ISU World Championship event. Competing in three individual events, she won them all, including the 3000m relay. She added her first senior world championship medal in 2022 through a silver medal won in the 3000m relay in Montreal. She, however, did not compete in the 2023 and 2024 world championships but returned in 2025 and went on to win gold medals in the 3000m relay and mixed relay, respectively.
In 2021, Brunelle made her World Cup debut by winning two silver medals in the women’s 3000m relay team and one silver in the mixed relay. She missed her chance in the 2022 and 2023 editions.
Meanwhile, in September 2024, the Canadian short track speed skater won her first national title by winning four events. Later in February 2025, she earned her maiden individual victory in the ISU Short Track World Tour with a silver medal and finished third in the 500m standings.
