Canadian Olympic athletes touch down in Calgary

Fresh off of a historic win of 29 medals at the Pyeongchang 2018 Olympic Winter Games, more than two dozen Canadian athletes arrived at the Calgary International Airport Monday afternoon.

81% of Canada's medals were won by athletes who trained or competed at facilities in Calgary and Canmore

David Bell CBC News Posted: Feb 26, 2018 1:23 PM EST | Last Updated: February 27, 2018

Clockwise from top left: Kaillie Humphries, Ted-Jan Bloemen, Denny Morrison, Josie Morrison and Justin Kripps are among Canadian Olympic athletes arriving at the Calgary airport Monday afternoon. (The Canadian Press/The Associated Press)

Fresh off of a historic win of 29 medals at the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics, more than two dozen Canadian athletes arrived at the Calgary International Airport on Monday afternoon.

Among them were bronze medal winnerKaillieHumphries, who was happy with her performance,but also agreed with a suggestionby CBC'sHelen Upperton herselfa former silver medal winner in 2010that all that may have stood between the bronze and a gold for Canada was their equipment.

"Equipment played a very, very big part in this race," Humphriessaid.

Canadian Olympian Kaillie Humphries, returning home to Calgary from the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. (CBC)

"The way thatthis track is designed, and the type of race that it is, it was always going to be close racing," she added. "It was going to take the [fast] start, it was going to take the drive, [and] it was going totake the [best]equipment.

"The way the ice was shaped,equipment played a bigger part, definitely, than we had originally anticipated."

That said, Humphries wasn't pointing any fingers, but rather simply observing that her German opponents won the gear portion of the rivalry.

'I have no regrets'

"Canada put the best equipment forward that we had,"she said. "We made the smartest choices and we really didn't leave anything to chance and I have no regrets.

"Overall, the Germans were one step ahead with the equipment they have.Canada has some work to do. We're anxiously awaiting getting started all over again. We now have another four yearsand we'll see what we can do come the next [Olympic] games."

Humphries also hopes to return to the next Olympics, in Beijing in 2022.

"There's always work to do. Sport is never done. You've got to always challenge and continue to grow. And learn. But I'm definitely goingtake a little bit of a break first, and then hit the ground running.

"Thank you very much andI appreciate the warm welcome [home] Calgary."

A common thread among many of Canada's wins werethe shared training grounds ofWinSport'sCanada Olympic Park and the Olympic Oval.

WinSporttweeted Saturday that 81 per cent of Canada's medals were won by athletes who trained or competed at its facilities in Calgary andCanmore.

Of Canadas 27 medals, 22 (or 81%) were won by athletes who have trained or competed at WinSports facilities at Canada Olympic Park or Canmore. We are so proud to work with talented athletes from all over Canada! pic.twitter.com/X0tmQDSG7b
—@WinSportCanada

Here's who arrived Monday afternoon:

Bobsleigh

Kaillie Humphries, Justin Kripps, Jesse Lumsden, Bryan Barnett, Lascelles Brown, Ben Coakwell, Christine de Bruin, Melissa Lotholz, Alysia Rissling and Seyi Smith.

Canadian Olympian Justin Kripps, returning home to Calgary from the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. (CBC)

Speed Skating

Ted-Jan Bloemen, Denny Morrison, Jordan Belchos, Kali Christ, Ben Donnelly, Kaylin Irvine, Marsha Hudey, Josie Morrison, Keri Morrison and Isabelle Weidemann.

Canadian Olympian Ted-Jan Bloemen, returning home to Calgary from the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. (CBC)

Luge

Alex Gough, Sam Edney, Justin Snith, Brooke Apshkrum and Mitch Malyk.

Canadian Olympian Justin Snith, returning home to Calgary from the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. (CBC)

Curling

Kevin Koe, Cheryl Bernard and Benjamin Hebert, while John Morris arrives a little later on a flight at 5:18 p.m.

Skeleton

Kevin Boyer, Jane Channell, Dave Greszczyszyn and Elisabeth Vathje.

Ice Hockey

Brianne Jenner and Rebecca Johnston.

March arrivals

Skeleton athlete Barrett Martineau landin Calgary next Monday, March 5, at 3:28 p.m., followed by Ski Cross athletes Brady Leman and India Sherret, who returnMarch 18 at 3:55 p.m.