Olympic track cycling champion Kelsey Mitchell has been lured back to the sport by the presence of a new velodrome in her hometown. Following her participation in bobsledding for Canada at the Milan Cortina Games in February, the 32-year-old athlete from Sherwood Park, Alberta, has returned to cycling at the recently opened Alberta Velodrome in Edmonton’s Coronation Park Sports and Recreation Centre.
This indoor cycling track, part of a $153-million facility, is one of only three 250-meter UCI-sanctioned tracks in Canada. The other two are located in Milton, Ontario, which serves as the national team’s training hub, and in Bromont, Quebec, at the Centre National De Cyclisme, completed in 2022.
Mitchell, who secured a gold medal in women’s Olympic sprint in Tokyo in 2021, was initially introduced to cycling through RBC Training Ground four years prior, despite not owning a bike at the time. After feeling burnt out following an eighth-place finish in Paris in 2024, she briefly ventured into speedskating before transitioning to bobsleigh, where she competed in Cortina, Italy, placing 13th with pilot Melissa Lotholz.
Seeking a better work-life balance and a new environment, Mitchell found solace in returning to track cycling at the Edmonton velodrome. The proximity of the hardwood track, just 30 minutes from her home, allows her to maintain connections with her family and friends in Sherwood Park.
Mitchell, who aims to make a national team comeback, underwent a PRP injection in April to address a longstanding leg issue affecting her power. She is working towards achieving a national standard time on August 31 to secure her place on the Canadian team, with aspirations of competing in the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.
The integration of the Coronation Park Sports and Recreation Centre with the Peter Hemingway Aquatic Centre is a notable feature for Mitchell, who appreciates the facility’s accessibility to both elite and recreational athletes. She views the velodrome as a platform to introduce track cycling to the public, showcasing the growth of the sport in Canada with the addition of new facilities across the country.