Canadian Press projects 26 medals for Canada in Beijing

The Canadian Press predicts 26 medals for Canada's team at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, with a breakdown of eight gold, eight silver and 10 bronze.

CP forecasted 29 medals (nine gold, 10 silver, 10 bronze) for 2018.

Canada won 29 (11 gold, 8 silver, 10 bronze) in Pyeongchang, South Korea, for third among countries and the most by a Canadian team at a single Winter Olympics.

Canada's lack of figure skating depth compared to 2018 makes CP less bullish on medal potential for 2022, but 26 would tie its haul from the 2010 Games in Vancouver and Whistler, B.C.

Canada won its second-highest total medals, and set record for gold medals in a Winter Olympics with 14, when it hosted in 2010.

The global data analytics company Gracenote's most recent projections pegs Canada to finish fourth in Beijing with 23 medals (six gold, six silver and 11 bronze).

The California-based outfit, which supplies statistical analysis to sports leagues around the world, picks Norway to top the medal table again with 46 medals (21 gold, 14 silver, 11 bronze.)

Here is look at Canada's medal potential in Beijing:

ALPINE SKIING

The world's lack of familiarity with the Xiaohaituo Mountain courses is the great equalizer. Expect surprise winners. Canada's best medal chances are in women's slalom and men's and women's super-G and alpine combined. This is the Olympic swan song for alpine combined. 1 bronze.

BOBSLED

Justin Kripps is among the best pilots in the world and the defending champion in two-man. Canadian's Christine de Bruin and Cynthia Appiah are medal contenders in the new event of women's monobob. 1 silver, 1 bronze.

CURLING

Canada is a medal threat, but not the dominant one it once was. Brad Gushue and Jennifer Jones bring the experience