Langelaar’s Olympic quest receives boost from the Jets

Tyson Langelaar is all about speed. Now, the 26-year-old long-track speed skater has received a significant boost from his hometown Winnipeg Jets in his quest to reach the 2026 Winter Olympics.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled,” he told the Free Press this week. “It’s a dream come true to be connected to them.”

The hockey club recently announced a first-of-its-kind partnership with Langelaar that will help him on the road to Italy in February. He first approached True North with the idea over the summer.

“Amateur sport is very expensive. And it’s definitely not getting cheaper. I think for the last 20 years or so, amateur sport funding has always been behind the times and never really caught up,” said Langelaar, who now trains out of Calgary while also attending university.

“So the big thing for amateur athletes to kind of help alleviate the financial strain is to look for some private sponsorship. I’ve been really lucky over the past four years, meeting people that really care for what I’m doing and want be part of the journey. For the Jets, I’m humbled and grateful they decided my journey was worth supporting.”

The partnership includes funding — the amount was not disclosed — and a custom-designed branded skin suit with the Jets logo which Langelaar will wear at upcoming Olympic qualifying events over the next three months.

“We’re also going to do some community events together next summer and really see where this partnership can go,” he said.

Langelaar has been on the ice since he was a child but jokes he is probably one of the few Winnipeggers who never played organized hockey.

“After taking skating lessons from the local community centre, I just really fell in love with being on the ice. And moreso the aspect of going fast,” he said.

That fire became an inferno when, at the age of seven, he watched Winnipegger Cindy Klassen clean up at the 2006 games in Italy; winning gold in the 1500 metre, silver in the 1000 metre and team pursuit, as well as bronze in the 3000 metre and 5000 metre.

Klassen was the first speed skater in 26 years — and the first female speed skater ever — to win five medals at one Games.

“An all-time Olympic performance,” said Langelaar, whose parents quickly enrolled him at the St. James Speed Skating Club.

His career began to take off, with multiple medals at the World Juniors Championships between 2016 and 2018. Langelaar has been a member of the Canadian World Cup team since 2019, winning his first medal — silver — as a member of the team pursuit in Kazakhstan that year.

He qualified for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, competing in the 1500m individual event and just missing the podium as Canada finished fifth in the team pursuit.

“It was a childhood dream, and I was glad I was able to check that off my resumé at 22 years old,” said Langelaar. “I think, coming back from the Olympics, I struggled a bit. It was like you were at an all-time high and then you come back to reality. But now, the goal is to make another one.”

He’s off to a solid start in that department. Langelaar finished fourth in both the 1000-metre and 1500-metre events last week at the Canadian Long Track Championships in Calgary.

“I was very pleased. I would love to be on the podium, but considering I skated my best 1000-metre time ever and a pretty good 1500 (metre), I can’t complain where I’m at,” he said.

“I’m very close to it, and that’s a great sign. I’m happy I’m in that shape in October.”

Next up are the World Cup trials, which will be held over the next two months leading up to the Canadian Olympic trials at the beginning of January when team selection will be finalized.

“The next three months will be pretty chaotic, but I’m here for it,” he said.

“I’ve worked really hard to put myself in this position. It’s nice to see that hard work pay off. Now, just keep my head down, focus on the goals and try to prepare myself as best I can. It’s going to be a roller-coaster of emotions and hopefully a lot of travelling. I’m excited, that’s for sure.”

Beyond his own ambitions, Langelaar hopes to follow in Klassen’s footsteps as a role model. He serves as an ambassador for KidSport and Classroom Champions and was a 2019 recipient of the Canada Games’ Roland Michener Award, recognizing leadership, co-operation and excellence.

“The older I get and the longer I compete, the more I would love to inspire the next generation,” he said. “Going to another Olympics would be so, so fun and fulfilling. Obviously for myself, but also to hopefully get some new speed skaters eventually coming out of Winnipeg.”

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X and Bluesky: @mikemcintyrewpg