The Olympics have always been a time for countries to show off their sense of style, and Team Canada athletes have worn a range of interesting fashion choices over the years. From the dramatic capes seen at Lillehammer 1994 to the Canadian tuxedos worn for Tokyo 2020, Canada hasn’t been afraid of playing around with looks.
In fact, the uniforms created by Lululemon for the 2024 Paris Olympics feature a design that’s a bit more playful — and controversial — than what’s been seen at prior events. Some Olympic fans haven’t drawn positive conclusions when it comes to the tracksuits, comparing them to blood splatters and uncooked bacon. But others found themselves on the other end of the spectrum, sharing their love for the patterns on social media.
Still, Lululemon reached an exclusive deal to design Team Canada’s official garb until the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Moreover, marketers say the brand likely won’t suffer amidst the criticism — and will instead score both sales and brand awareness.
While Team Canada’s official uniforms for this year’s Olympics might’ve drawn more discussion than usual, what have Canadian athletes worn at previous Games over the years? Below, scroll through some of the looks seen at opening and closing ceremonies since the 1970s. Then, cast your vote on the best and worst outfits Team Canada has ever worn at an Olympic Games.
Team Canada’s uniform for the opening ceremony of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics was an impeccable look featuring a red, white and black look made by the Hudson’s Bay Company. The ensemble also featured the first introduction of the mega-popular red mittens that became ubiquitous with those Winter Games.
Lululemon designed Team Canada’s uniform for the 2024 Paris Olympics, including Canadian-inspired prints featuring the iconic maple leaf. The ensemble — which comes in a red and white version as well as an all-red style — was “designed to support more bodies and more abilities,” according to a press release from the Vancouver-founded company in April.
Roots was Team Canada’s official outfitter for the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. Its design — featuring a vintage maple leaf and white piping on red varsity jackets and matching track pants — gave a retro look that’d certainly be in style today. Plus, a variety of Canada-labelled red and white toques, ball caps and winter headbands were a nice add-on.
Canadian athletes sported a loud and busy uniform for the closing ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, created by the Hudson’s Bay Company. The outfits, featuring red and white T-shirts and pants, included the maple leaf and Chinese-inspired patterns.
For the 1988 Calgary Olympics, Canadians celebrated a Western aesthetic by — thanks to supplier Sunice, according to Nuvo Magazine — dressing in red trench coats featuring white fringe and white cowboy hats. It was one of the more memorable fashion moments by Canadian Olympians.
The 1992 Barcelona Olympics saw a loud outfit from Team Canada, where “more is more” seemed to be the desired style at the time. The outfits featured bold and bright geometric designs, with yellow, pink, turquoise and purple replacing the national red-and-white colour schemes. That was paired with white cowboy hats, large yellow earrings, fanny packs and maple leaf-shaped gloves.
Team Canada’s look for the 2012 London Olympics was a casual, featuring a iconic zippered red-and-white jacket and beige khakis. After outcry over the made-in-China garments worn by Canadian athletes in 2008, these outfits were almost entirely manufactured in Canada.
The closing ceremony for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics saw Team Canada athletes dressed in Canadian tuxedos — but not the kind that resonated with everyone. The blue denim jackets, supplied by the Hudson’s Bay Company, featured faux spray paint, Sharpie scribbles and a variety of patches, creating a look that felt a bit dated.
While not the look for everyone, Team Canada walked the opening ceremony of the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics wearing a red, black and gold outfit that resembled a Mountie in a dramatic cape.
Team Canada’s outfit for the 1976 Montreal Olympics — the first and, so far, only Summer Olympics held in the country — looked a bit confusing. While the ensemble stayed true to the red-and-white colour scheme, a mix of jackets tied to look like robes and floppy gardening hats gave too much of an unserious energy from the athletes.
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