The Big Story Weekend Listen: Is Canada investing enough in its Olympic success?
Feb 22, 2026
Julie Stevens, Professor of Sports Management at Brock University and former Canada Games advisor, explains the roots of Canada’s Olympic performance. She discusses funding shortfalls, athlete financial struggles, and how system fragmentation and late specialization harm talent development. They compare youth-focused models like Norway’s and debate coordination between community, provincial, and federal supports.
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Aging Underfunded System Is Hitting Podiums
- Canada's high-performance sport system is roughly 50 years old and chronically under-resourced.
- Julie Stevens links reduced podiums to long-term funding scarcity that finally shows up at events like the Olympics.
Athletes Resort To Couch Surfing And Selling Gear
- Reported athlete struggles include sleeping on friends' couches and selling personal gear to afford competition.
- Catherine Jette cites media stories showing athletes self-funding even to reach the Olympics.
Athletes Are Professional But Poorly Paid
- Athletes functionally behave like professionals yet lack livable wages and stable support.
- Julie Stevens references the Athlete Assistance Program and historical comparisons to federal employee-like funding.