The Current - Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier’s “starry, starry” Olympic win

Episode Date: February 16, 2026

Team Canada is gaining momentum after securing their first gold medal at the Olympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina, Italy — but what’s the deal with this curling controversy? Team Canada’s Chef de Mission Jennifer Heil is here. Plus, Olympic favourites and bronze medal winners, figure skaters Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier.

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This is a CBC podcast. Hello, I'm Matt Galloway, and this is the current podcast. It is day 10 of the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. Look at this. Macau-Kexbury is Olympic champion. Once again, Canada's first gold medal. Oh, my God. The king has reclaimant's ground. Wow.

Still on the outside, Courtney Saro, battling with Everett. She's got it. In for silver. I guess the skating world's been saving it for them. Break out the Kleenex. Oh, yeah. Going to need another box, Brenda. Those are a few of Canada's standout moments at these Olympic games.

And that last voice we just heard saying she was going to need another box of Kleenex as the coach of Piper Gillis and Paul Porrier, who won a bronze medal for Canada in ice dance. We're going to speak with Piper and Paul coming up in just a few minutes. But first we're joined by the Chef de Michone for Teen Canada Olympic champion herself, Jennifer Hile. She is in Cortina. Italy this morning, Jen, good morning. Good morning. It's been a week of these games.

What is the mood like in Team Canada? Yeah, well, oh man, you got me emotional again with that intro. You know, we have had so many courageous performances. You just replayed a few of them. The team, you know, they came here to perform. They've been locked in. They've been focused. We are really just building.

We always knew that the second week of these Olympics, were going to be our strongest in terms of metal potential. And so, you know, the team is just here executing. When McHale-Kinsbury won that gold medal, Canada's first gold medal yesterday, what did that mean for the team in terms of the team's mood? Getting that first gold medal is always a great thing. You know, fortunately, I was able to play that role in 20 years ago competing, you know, at the beginning of the games.

And, you know, it is a boost to the team without a good. a doubt. But I don't think we should only be in the game of gold medals. Of course, we want gold medals. Of course, that's the outcome we're aiming for. But we know how competitive is out here. We should be aiming for performance and going out to compete with the world's best. But I would say that a lot of these performances have done that, including Piper and Paul coming out with one of their best performances ever. There have been those very close calls. And this is the first gold for Team Canada. I mentioned it's the longest time since 1968. that it's taken for Canada to win a gold.

There have been those very, very close calls where it seemed like people were about to, perhaps, win a gold medal or win a medal and didn't. It was luck not on Canada's side? Is that what your sense was? That it was kind of a narrative that was floating around back here in Canada, that people had been performing well,

but, you know, the puck didn't bounce in the right way or, you know, the clock kind of favored somebody else instead of Canada. Is your sense that luck wasn't maybe on our side for that first week? Look, I am, you know, as the athlete, I don't rely on luck for performance. You know, we want to build a system where the athletes are prepared. They have everything they need behind them and they're ready to compete. So that's just the nature of competition and sport. It is that intense.

And I can tell you that since I was an athlete, it's only become more sophisticated. Countries have only invested more in preparing for their athletes. and that's actually not our reality as Canadians. We're punching way above our weight here. You know, we haven't had an increase in funding to the national sport organization. So the actual operations of, you know, the coaches, the training camps, all of these fundamental pieces. We haven't seen an increase in over 20 years. And so, you know, we actually have 30% less to work with today because of that than we did in 2004.

And so we're seeing extraordinary performances here. But it is challenging behind this. scenes and the athletes are under a lot of pressure. You know what that pressure is like. What do you say to those athletes? Because you've experienced that yourself. So what do you say to them when they put everything in and maybe they don't get exactly what they were hoping for? Well, I mean, there's two issues here. One is the nature of the stress of performance at the Olympics and the mental game. You know, my approach was always, you know, have no regrets at the start line. Do absolutely everything in your control to,

you know, basically take control of that moment. We don't control the outcomes. We don't control what our competitors do. But, you know, I always knew that if I did enough, getting to that start line, then I could perform it my best. And so that's all I want for the athletes. Again, we saw it with, you know, Megan who had a massive crash. Megan Oldham in the slope style went back up to win a medal.

That's because she was prepared. That's because, you know, she had that resiliency. She had trained that. It wasn't a fluke. You know, Piper and Paul having the best one of the, their best performances for that bronze medal. Though that is the beauty of the Olympic Games when you can let that excellence come out. The other challenge, though, is the financial stress.

And it is, you know, at a different level than what I had to compete under, you know, going into the 2010 Olympic Games. We, you know, on average, athletes are paying $25,000 per person to just fuel their journey to get to the start line. This is real pressure. You know, we've seen training camps cut for these athletes. athletes in preparation because of funding. I've had staff members come up to tell me who have PhDs and sports science.

They don't know if they will be able to remain in Canada and have a job next year because of funding. So that is real pressure and that impacts the mood on the ground. And that's why I really think there's so much to celebrate here because our athletes will always do more with less. They are so brave. They are so courageous. They are punching way above their weight.

And we need to celebrate that. But it's not an easy environment right now. Can I ask you about the curling? There's a headline in the newspaper here in Canada saying that Team Canada has gone full villain after being accused of cheating both on the men's side and the women's side. What is going on with the curling? So, you know, look, I'm in the Olympic Games bubble, which is a performance bubble. I know that there's a lot of chatter out there. I don't know a lot about curling.

But what I do know is that they have been cleared by the rules and their federation, you know, that it's been cleared. It's been, you know, likened to an offside in basketball. I'm no curling expert, but I do rely on the sports, you know, to officiate themselves. That's where we're at. We're still in the game. We're looking to, you know, end strong on top of that podium. And that's really where the mindset is of these athletes, you know, I've bumped into them this morning. They're dialed in.

They're focused. I don't let you go. We have a whole week left. But what has been your moment of the games so far? You've been at so many of these competing, but also now you're in this leadership role. When you take a look at what you've seen so far this week, what's been your moment of the games? Oh my gosh. Well, I don't have one moment. I'm so behind the athletes. I'm so passionate about sport. I'm so passionate about how it brings our country together. We've seen record number of Canadians watching these games. If you're making me pick one, I'm going to pick one. I'm going to pick one. I'm going to the most recent that I was on location to witness. That's Laurent Dubre. He's at the end of his career, 500-meter long-track speed skating. I was sitting right behind his parents. He had to wait 15 minutes for the other pairs to skate

to find out if he would still be on the podium. And it was one of the most beautiful moments, just locking eyes with his mom and celebrating that because, you know, it's the family effort. You know, these families are having to shoulder more than ever before for their athletes as well. So that was a pretty, beautiful a moment, which again just shows, you know, the resiliency and the toughness of our

athletes to still be, you know, in Laurent's case, podiuming in a very competitive sprint at the end of his career. You're in a really special position, and you've seen a lot, but there's a whole week to come. Enjoy yourself, and thank you very much for taking time to talk to us. Thanks so much. Jennifer Hyle is the chef de Michaudemichon for Team Canada at these Olympics. She is in Cortina, Italy. The consent isn't for everyone.

You need grit to climb this high this often. You've got to be an underdog that always overdelivers. You've got to be 6,500 hospital staff, 1,000 doctors, all doing so much with so little. You've got to be Scarborough. Defined by our uphill battle and always striving towards new heights. And you can help us keep climbing. Donate at lovescarbro.ca.ca. This message comes from Viking, committed to exploring the world in comfort.

Journey through the heart of Europe on a Viking long ship, with thoughtful service, destination-focused dining, and cultural enrichment, on board, and on shore. With a variety of voyages and sailing dates to choose from, now is the time to explore Europe's waterways. Learn more at viking.com. As I mentioned, a Canadian highlight of these games thus far was the performance of ice dancers, Piper Gillis and Paul Porier. It won them a bronze medal. We reached their coach, Carol Lane, in Milan. It was actually really almost surreal.

My biggest emotion was actually peace. It was peace. I felt like a thousand pound weight had been lifted off me and that I could just enjoy the moment because they'd done it. They'd done exactly what they set out to do. And it was just the most peaceful moment I think I've had in years. We also visited the Scarborough Figure Skating Club,

where Piper and Paul have been training together for 15 years. I was out of loss for words, and once the program was over, started to tear up seeing their reaction. Just knowing how much work they put in every day on the ice and even off the ice is just so inspirational. It was kind of like magical. It was really emotional.

I found it really mesmerizing the blend between like the skating skills and the emotions all coming together. I think it was like very cool to see somebody that you actually like know win an Olympic medal. I felt really excited. Also I felt proud of them because I think they really deserve that medal because they've been working hard for a very long time. Especially like throughout the brakes and stuff they never stopped working. It makes us want to like skate just like them, you know. Congratulations, Piper and Ball!

Piper Gillis and Paul Porrier Olympic bronze medalists. Join us now. Good morning to you both. Good morning. Hello. Congratulations from Canada. Thanks. Thank you.

Piper, how does it feel, Olympic medalist? Have you gotten used to that phrase yet? Slowly but surely, but it still feels kind of like a pinch-me moment. And you hear the little teammates that we have back at home kind of celebrating and being so proud of us. Like, it's so nice that we've had that amazing amount of support. So it's kind of wonderful that we're able to bring back a bronze medal and show them and show them that dreams are possible. Paul, is the bronze medal? I mean, how do you measure its distance from you? Is it in, in centimeters, millimeters? Have you taken it off your neck yet? We've been carrying our

medals around a lot, which has been so nice. There's a constant kind of weight in our pockets, because they're quite heavy. But it's just so nice. We've been able to go around Milan quite a bit over the last few days and just everywhere we go, we see people from Canada that are cheering for us that want to see the medals and that are just so excited for the team so excited for sport and just all the amazing athletes that are on the team. So it's just been a really special and amazing environment

over the last few days. Are you surprised how heavy it is? Yeah. The two of us were like jumping up and down on the podium and then when we finally settled and they put the medals, we were like, oh, we had to like, kind of use our abs to keep it up. That's a good weight. Paul, we heard Carol Lane there.

Issa Bunk to talk about heavy. She talked about how she finally feels at peace, that a weight has been lifted from her. When you hear that from your coach, what does that mean to you? Well, I think it's so powerful because we felt the exact same way here, even before the skate, we both felt oddly calm in a way that is not usual at a competition, especially not a competition of this magnitude. But I think that speaks to the preparation that we put going into this event. We've had quite a challenging season and a lot of disappointments in the last few months leading up into the Olympics. And I think that was really

motivating for us. It really sharpened us. It forced us to focus. We knew if we wanted to accomplish, hear what we wanted to accomplish to win a medal, it was really going to take everything from us. And so I think when we finally did get to that competition moment, we knew that we had done everything that we could. And I think that allowed us to skate with freedom. And, you know, I think that's what's so amazing about our sport when the stakes are so high that still in those moments you can find complete freedom in what you're doing. Piper, there's a moment right before you start. You're looking at each other, you're holding hands, and then you take this big, deep breath. Tell me what was going on in that moment?

You know what? Not a whole lot, actually. It was funny. Before we even got on the ice, we just kind of looked at each other and we're like, I'm so proud of you. No, matter what happens. I love you. Let's enjoy this moment. So I think by the time we took that deep inhale, like we felt so ready to create a moment. And I think that's something that's so special about, I guess, looking back on a moment like that. Like we can be so proud of having such calmness and peace because that's so unique for any athlete. A lot of the time we have, were overthinking a lot of the time, but I don't know. It was just so still and peaceful and magical.

Who are you skating for, do you think, Piper? I mean, you're skating for each other. You're skating for yourself, but there's a nation that's watching you. Who are you skating for? I feel like it's changed over the years. I think when I was younger, you know, I was skating for myself. Then when my mom had passed, I felt like I was kind of skating in her honor. but as the years have gone on,

I feel like we're so connected with our support group, our family, our friends, Canada. I think this medal feels like it's Canadians medal. And I think that's what's been so fun is Paul and I've gone around in Milan and we're like, you want to hold it, you want to touch it? And what's so unique about the medal, it's like, it's shaped, both halves are separated as like half the medal is yours and half it's the medal of your support group and your family members and your country.

and I think that's such a, I don't, such a, I don't even know how to, a nice metaphor for sure. And so I think over the last couple years, we've kind of just been skating for everyone. And I think Canada is really proud of us and we're really proud to represent them. Paul, you're dialed in as this is going on. But is there a moment in the back of your mind where you think this is going really, really well? in this performance not so much it honestly went by in a blink and i always liken the best performances to um you know driving home and suddenly you're sitting in your driveway and you don't remember

doing any of it the best gates usually go a little bit like that it went by so quickly um suddenly we were very close to the end um and you know our coaches always say when things are going really well that's the moment to to focus even more um so you know i might have just given myself a very small reminder to just stay present and not think ahead to the end. But, you know, I think our training allowed us to take it one step at a time the way that we skate our best. And, you know, the crowd has been so amazing here in Milan. They've been so supportive of all the skaters, cheering for them. There was so much energy. The crowd was really behind us. And so it really felt like this collective experience. We were alone on the ice, but we weren't alone, so to speak.

And then at the end, I mean, Kurt Browning says he'd never seen you so emotional at the end of the performance. What was that like? I don't know. I really don't know. It's such a haze of emotions. But I think that's really, you know, the special thing about the Olympics. It really, as I said before, the Olympic project demands everything from us. We have to give absolutely everything. We have to sacrifice absolutely everything. And so in turn, the feelings are proportionately big and extreme and full. And so, you know, I think of what we've experienced, what we've lived over the last two weeks,

arriving here in Milan, getting ready, competing. And I think we've just felt the full spectrum of the human experience in a very short period of time. So it's been really beautiful. It's been really rich. and we've been so special to share that with our team that's here and also our team at home that we know are waiting to create us when we get back to Canada. There is this photo, Piper, on your Instagram of you at preschool at the Olympic Day and you're jumping up and down and you have like, what, this fake metal or some sort of metal around you back? Yeah. Yeah. Oh my gosh.

It's funny. I was looking through his old photos this summer and I happened to stumble upon this photo. and it's hilarious that I'm jumping the exact same way as I did as a kid. And our coach Carol always says, like, you're skating. It's like a, it's a footprint. Like from the moment you start, you don't really change. And I think that's what's so special is that like my Olympic journey or in my Olympic dream didn't change since I was a kid and to be able to celebrate kind of in the same way.

Like, I don't know, it's like a full circle moment. But I think that's what's so special about the games is that we can show anyone at home that, you know, if you continue to believe in yourself and strive for greatness, it's possible. But just keep being yourself and being authentic. And I think that's what people will be drawn to, especially as a role model, as just being yourself. She wouldn't have believed that. I mean, maybe she would have. Maybe she thought that she was going to be there, that little piper. I don't know.

I think she believed it. But I think over the journey, sometimes she may have doubted herself. But I think, you know, over time, we've built our confidence and our strength up. And, I don't know, we made it happen. Paul, what do you think it's going to be like just finally to come home? You're going to step out of those doors at the airport. And you know people are going to be there. I'm excited to be home.

I think we are really excited to kind of soak in this last week of the games. And we get to be cheerleaders now for the rest of Team Canada. All of our teammates, all of our friends that are here still competing. It's so much fun to be a sports fan at the Olympic Games. It really is just the most incredible environment. But I think we are looking forward to being home and, you know, sharing our medal with the rest of our people. We were so lucky to have family here at the games, but there's so many more people that are a part of our story, that are part of our journey that we haven't seen yet, that we haven't been able to give a hug to yet. And I think it's just going to be just a warm glow for the first few weeks back in Canada.

It may last even more than a few weeks. It's going to be quite something. I hope you enjoy it. This is a really great moment for yourself, but also for this country. Congratulations again. Thank you. Thank you so much.

Canadian ice dancers, Olympic, bronze medalist, Piper Gillis, and Paul Pore. You've been listening to the current podcast. My name is Matt Galloway. Thanks for listening. I'll talk to you soon. For more CBC podcasts,

go to cbc.ca.ca slash podcasts.