Wotherspoon begins new role as Speed Skating Canada NextGen Coach in April 2026
CALGARY, ALBERTA – Jeremy Wotherspoon, one of Canada’s most decorated long track speed skaters of all-time, is returning home to help develop the next generation of skaters. The 49-year-old will join Speed Skating Canada’s long track high performance program in the role of NextGen Coach starting April 2026.
A four-time Olympian, Wotherspoon (Red Deer, Alta.) captured silver in the 500m at Nagano 1998. With 67 World Cup victories and many more podium finishes in his career, he is the most decorated speed skater in Canadian history by a very large margin. He was crowned World Sprint Champion four times (1999, 2000, 2002, 2003) and won four World Championship titles across the 500m (2003, 2004, 2008) and 1000m (2001). He also finished atop the World Cup standings in the 500m on eight different occasions and in the 1000m five times.
Wotherspoon’s coaching career got underway soon after his retirement from competition in 2010. He worked at the KIA Speed Skating Academy in Inzell from 2011 to 2015, where he oversaw athletes from over 22 different countries, before joining the Norwegian speed skating federation in 2016 as Head Sprint Coach. He coached at last four Olympic Winter Games, where his athletes captured three medals, including a historic 500m victory from Håvard Holmefjord Lorentzen at PyeongChang 2018.
Jeremy Wotherspoon, NextGen Coach – Long Track, Speed Skating Canada“I’m really excited to be a part of the Canadian speed skating team again. I’ve been living and coaching in Europe for 15 years, and I have had the opportunity to work with many great athletes, coaches, and support staff from all over the world. I’m grateful to all the friends and colleagues that I have in the speed skating community and would particularly like to thank everyone in Norway for the opportunity to be a part of the sport system and culture of sport there. I now have a great opportunity back in Canada, where I will be able to share my experience and knowledge. In my new position, I’m really looking forward to connecting with athletes, staff and finding my place in this great team so we can best help each other get ready for the challenges ahead.”
The Canadian long track program had a successful showing at Milano-Cortina 2026, capturing five medals (1 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze). With a number of veteran athletes entering the twilight of their careers, Phil Dunne, recently hired as the program’s new High Performance Director, will lead the development and implementation of a high performance strategy for the 2030 Olympic quadrennial that will prioritize the continued growth of NextGen athletes to ensure sustainable, long-term success for Canada on the international stage.
In his new role, Wotherspoon will lead the training and preparation of those NextGen skaters for national and international competitions, while also supporting the development of the athlete pathway. He will collaborate with coaches across the various levels of the high performance system on skater development and identify growth opportunities for NextGen potential athletes.
Joe Morissette, Chief Executive Officer, Speed Skating Canada“Jeremy Wotherspoon’s return to Canada is an enormous win for our athletes and for the future of our long track program. He is not only one of the most accomplished speed skaters in our country’s history, but also a proven leader who has excelled in developing high performance athletes on the world stage. He will play a transformative role in helping our next generation of athletes grow, push boundaries, and realize their full potential. His impact will be felt across our system, and his arrival marks an important step in strengthening our pathway toward sustained international success.”
The international long track speed skating season comes to an end this coming weekend with the ISU Speed Skating Allround and Sprint World Championships in Heerenveen, while the domestic circuit wraps up with the Long Track Canada Cup Final in Calgary from March 6-8.