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Pyeongchang 2018: Will Team Canada beat its medal record?

Canada is off to a fast start in the medal standings at the Winter Games in South Korea. But can it match its high-water mark from Vancouver?
Terra Ciolfe
Canada’s Kaitlyn Lawes, left, and John Morris celebrate winning the mixed doubles final curling match against Switzerland Jenny Perret and Martin Rios at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
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The Canadian Press is forecasting Team Canada will beat the current winter Olympic medal record by bringing home 29 medals from Pyeongchang—nine golds, 10 silvers and 10 bronzes.

It is predicting two gold medals for both curling and short-track speed skating and one gold in bobsled, figure skating, freestyle skiing, women’s hockey and snowboarding. 

READ: Pyeongchang 2018 medal count: See where Canada stands

The 2010 Winter Games on home turf in Vancouver currently stand as the record at 26 total medals—14 golds, seven silver, and five bronzes. 

Even if the predictions prove to be right, this year’s haul likely won’t beat the gold-medal record from Vancouver.

Before Sochi in 2014, Canada’s Winter Olympic medal haul had increased every Games for the past four decades; the last time it declined was the 1980 games in Lake Placid.

One reason for the continual rise: more medal opportunities. Events are added and removed from the official Olympic programme for every game. New events this year, for example, include Big Air snowboarding, mass-start speed skating, mixed doubles in curling and the alpine skiing national team event. 

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