Two Canadian Olympians chosen as 2026 Calgary Stampede Parade Marshalls

Two Canadian Olympic medalists will be leading the 2026 Calgary Stampede Parade one month from Wednesday.

Mikaël Kingsbury and Courtney Sarault were selected as parade marshalls for the upcoming parade taking place on July 3.

Regarded as the “greatest moguls skier of all time,” the Stampede notes Kingsbury’s career, which has 100 World Cup wins, nine World Championships, and five Olympic medals — including a gold and silver at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games.

“I’m just super excited just to come back to Calgary and very, very honoured to be part of the Stampede as the parade marshal,” Kingsbury told CityNews.

The Quebec native, chosen to be a flagbearer for the 2026 Olympic Games, spent a lot of time training and competing here in Calgary, but he’s never been to the Stampede.

He says his connection started with his first World Cup in the city back in 2010.

“It’s the place in … Canada Olympic Park, where I had the most World Cup wins,” he said. “It’s a place where the Calgary snow always treated me well.”

Sarault, meanwhile, is an accomplished short-track speed skater herself, winning in World Championship events and claiming four medals at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games — only the second to accomplish the quad-medal feat in Canadian history.

Calgary is where she won her first medal, which the Moncton native is one of her favourite places to compete.

“I still say to this day that it’s probably in my top three favourite World Cup or even competitions ever,” she said. “It was a really big moment for me.”

One thing she expressed is how challenging it might be to ride the horse itself, but she is hopeful the moment will go smoothly.

“I’m not too worried, and I trust that they’re going to give me a really well-behaved horse too,” she said.

“And if it takes off and runs, I’m just gonna hold on for my life and use my leg strength to figure that one out.”

The Stampede Parade starts at 9 a.m. on Friday, July 3, with a prelude at 7:30 a.m.

Once it finishes, guests can head to Stampede Park for free admission from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

More information about the Calgary Stampede can be found here.

With files from Edward Djan and Andrea Montgomery