PROFILE: Kolz preparing to capture his fourth Olympic Games
In just a few days, Gee-Gees photographer and uOttawa alumnus Greg Kolz will be heading to Italy to document the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games. This will be Greg's fourth trip to the Olympics, having previously attended Vancouver 2010, PyeongChang 2018, and Beijing 2022.
Greg's primary responsibility will be photographing Canada's short track and long track speed skaters for Speed Skating Canada. However, he also anticipates covering a variety of other sports for Team Canada while in Milan, including women's and men's hockey, as well as figure skating.
"No two Olympics are the same," says Kolz. "Beijing 2022 was especially unique, given that the Games took place during the COVID 19 pandemic. There were no spectators in the stands, so the atmosphere was quite muted. That said, I'm really looking forward to the energy that the fans, including athletes' family and friends, will bring back to the competition this time around."
Kolz has been working with the Gee-Gees since the 2019-2020 season, and he has captured many memorable Gee-Gees moments through his lens. He credits this experience for keeping him at the top of his game when it comes to photographing sports.
"Throughout the academic year, I photograph on average three varsity games a week," says Kolz. "Whether it's outdoor sports like football, rugby, and soccer, or indoor sports like hockey, basketball, and volleyball, each of these helps me adapt to varying weather and lighting conditions, and continues to inspire creativity."
Kolz recognizes that photographing the Olympics is a privilege, and not something to be taken for granted. "I'm grateful to Speed Skating Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee for entrusting me with this assignment. I'm also very thankful for the support and encouragement I've received from so many people, including the staff at uOttawa Varsity Athletics," says Kolz.
"While it's a tonne of fun, I do take my responsibility of capturing memories for the athletes and their supporters very seriously," says Kolz. "These are moments that the athletes have been preparing for their entire lives, and I'm committed to ensuring that their hard work is recognized and their remarkable achievements live on well after the Games have ended."
While he's overseas, Kolz says he'll still be keeping tabs on the Gee-Gees. "I'll certainly be checking the scores as the Gee-Gees finish off the regular season, and I look forward to being back in Ottawa in time for the playoffs."