Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meaghan Markle were on hand to address Whistlerites as twin CF-18 Hornets roared overhead, bringing the Invictus Games 2025 to the Sea to Sky. Michael Bublé made a surprise appearance as well, joining fellow recording artists Jim Cuddy and Barney Bentall.
Approximately 100 participants took their first competitive reps from Maple Leaf Start at the iconic Whistler Sliding Centre (WSC) on opening day of skeleton. The field was organized into five categories, ISK1 through ISK5, based on athletes' weight.
Chris McGowan of Canada occupies second place in the ISK5 division between Richard Galpin of Great Britain (first) and Romania's Viorel Amzarescu (third).
Melanie Dumas is third among ISK3 contenders behind Brit Kyle Burgess and Dorian Ziemer from Germany in that order.
Another Canadian, Kim Hardy, has the runner-up spot in ISK2 with only Engelina Denneman of the Netherlands faster than her. Sitting third is French athlete Marie-Cecile Boeuf.
Skeleton is back at the WSC tomorrow as roughly 100 more racers make their attempts between noon and 7 p.m., after which point medals will be determined.
Don't forget Tuesday's other events: Whistler Olympic Park (WOP) is slated to host cross-country skiing from 10 a.m. to noon, followed by biathlon from 12:15 to 3:30 p.m. If novice alpine skiing and snowboarding pique your interest more, those are happening between 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Upper Fantastic on Whistler Mountain.
In terms of live entertainment, music starts in Village Square with DJ Witness at 2:30 p.m., the Boom Booms at 3 p.m. and headliner Five Alarm Funk at 4:30 p.m.
More Invictus Games results are available here.
