Carolina Hiller-Donnelly's mom convinced her to give the Olympics one last try. Now, she skates in her honour

"Oh, my gosh, it's so exciting," is how Carolina Hiller-Donnelly, a long-track speed skater from Prince George, B.C., describes the lead-up to her Olympic Games debut.

The 28-year-old was thinking of retiring from the sport after not making the national team in 2021, but she was convinced by her mom to follow her dreams at least one more time.

"I felt like I wasn't improving anymore, my times were pretty much staying the same and I thought my potential had been reached," she told CBC's Daybreak North host Carolina de Ryk. "But my mom said, give it one more go."

A new coach gave way to a new attitude and she started seeing an future where she could go for gold.

Her mother sadly passed in March 2025, providing another setback but while dealing with the loss, it was also the memory of her encouragement that made Hiller-Donnelly keep going.

"She was always on the start line with me, no matter where I was," Hiller-Donnelly said. "I feel really ready going into Milan and I feel her with me."

It may not be hosting the Olympic Games anytime soon but the city of Prince George has a lot to cheer for at this year's 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympic Games.

The northern B.C. city of roughly 90,000 people, a 700 kilometre drive north of Vancouver, has sent three athletes, plus one from neighbouring Mackenzie, to compete at the games.

That puts it on par with former Olympic co-host Whistler and just behind athletic powerhouse North Vancouver for B.C. representation in Italy.

Plus, Team Canada’s men’s hockey team is coached by Prince George’s very own Jon Cooper, who led Canada to victory over the United States at last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off.

Probably the most favoured to medal among the Prince George pack is Meryeta O’Dine who took home