When athletes walk out during the opening ceremonies of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics Friday, the Simon Fraser University community will be cheering on one of their own.
North Vancouver's Jane Channell, a former SFU athlete in both track and field and softball, will be competing in her third Olympics in Italy as a member of Canada's skeleton team.
"It still honestly hasn't even set in that I'm an Olympian, let alone a three-time Olympian. It's surreal," Channell says. "If this one is anything like the last two, the actual race will be less stressful, for me at least. There's a lot of build up to the Olympics. Qualifying, that's stressful and that where a lot of your time and energy is. But when you're at the Olympics, you instinctively know you're there to do a job and can put your full time and energy into that knowing that your friends, your family, and Canada, are going to love you regardless of the outcome. That's really powerful."
Jane Channell competes for Canada in skeleton. Photo: International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation
While competing at SFU, Channell earned All-America recognition after winning bronze as part of the women's 4x100 relay team at the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in 2008.
She also held Great Northwest Athletic Conference indoor titles at both 60 and 200 metres in 2011, and played 28 games that year on the softball team that won the Association of Independent Institutions regional title and competed in the NAIA World Series.
She still remembers her time at SFU fondly and is grateful for the community's support.
"It means everything, it's where your roots are," says Channell, who graduated with a bachelor of science degree.
"To have a support system - friends, family, SFU, the whole athletics community there, the coaches still there are the ones I had - it's grounding. It's fun getting to bring them on this crazy journey with me and letting them be a part of all that."
Even after a successful varsity career, Channell didn't think she'd become an Olympic athlete. But nothing compared to the thrill of skeleton once she gave it a try.
"Skeleton is a weird mix between a few things. I would equate it to a roller coaster ride, a waterslide and - if your superpower could be flying - what it would be like to be Superman," she says. "If you are in that flow state all athletes are trying to get to, it's almost like you're dancing with the track."
When Channell steps out onto the track, SFU will be behind her.
"From GNAC Track Champion (NCAA) to NAIA All-American and Softball World Series participant, it's no surprise that Jane has built a lasting sporting legacy and will be competing in her third Olympic Games," says Breanne Watson, director, SFU Athletics. "We're proud to have Jane as an SFU alum. Go Canada!"
Nearly 100 former SFU athletes have competed at the Olympics, winning 19 medals (eight gold, five silver and four bronze), since the school opened in 1965.
