Toronto’s most root-worthy Olympic athletes touching down in Paris this month

Sarah Douglas

Sailing   Hometown: Toronto Age: 30 Did you know? Her brother, Greg, is a two-time Olympic sailor Biggest win: Gold at the 2022 Sailing World Cup, making her the most successful woman sailor in Canadian history

Quinn

Soccer   Hometown: Toronto Age: 28 Day job: Midfielder for Seattle Reign FC Good luck charms: A stuffed moose, named Mr. Moose, from the 2010Vancouver Olympics, as well as a weighted security blanket Biggest win: Gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Did you know? They’re the first openly trans­gender, non-binary person to win an Olympic medal Sound bite: “I’ve wanted to compete in the Olympics since Grade 1. It’s such a unique experience seeing all of the best athletes in the world in one place—even in the dining hall, all lining up to get waffles”

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Basketball   Hometown: Hamilton Age: 26 Day job: Point guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder Biggest win: Defeated Team USA for bronze at the 2023 FIBA World Cup Fun fact: Voted GQ’s most stylish man of 2022 and plans to pursue a career in fashion once he retires from the NBA

Fay DeFazio Ebert

Skateboarding   Hometown: Toronto Age: 14 Day job: She starts Grade 10 in September Good luck charm: A feather in her helmet from Richard, one of her two pet ducks Biggest win: Gold at the 2023 Santiago Pan Am Games Did you know? She started skating at age six in a church basement on Broadview Sound bite: “Sometimes when I don’t perform well, I almost forget there’s a little kid in me who just loves skateboarding. But, when I hear people cheer, I remember how far I’ve come”

Andre De Grasse

Track and field   Hometown: Markham Age: 29 Biggest win: Gold in the 200-metre at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Did you know? Listens to the Weeknd and Drake pre-race to stay calm Sound bite: “My goal is to break the Canadian 100-metre record set by Donovan Bailey at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. It’s the main thing I want to do before I leave track”

Bianca Andreescu

Tennis   Hometown: Mississauga Age: 24 Good luck charm: Her poodle, Coco Biggest win: Champion of the 2019 US Open Did you know? Loves eating at Chadwick’s, Akira Back and Myth when in Toronto Sound bite: “It’s my first time attending the opening ceremony and living in the Olympic village. I can’t wait to meet the non-tennis athletes and ask how they prepare”

Olivia Apps

Rugby   Hometown: Lindsay Age: 25 Did you know? She fought off a cougar while hiking in BC’s Strathcona Park in June Biggest win: Named team captain in 2021 for her leadership and toughness Eureka moment: Has dreamed of winning Olympic gold since watching rugby sevens for the first time at the 2015 Toronto Pan Am Games

Dylan Bibic

Track cycling   Hometown: Mississauga Age: 20 Biggest win: Gold at the 2024 UCI Track Nations Cup in Milton Did you know? Races like a sprinter with his explosive bursts Eureka moment: Gave up baseball at age nine to pursue his dream of winning the Tour de France Sound bite: “Qualifying for the Olympics is a pretty low bar. What really means something is a medal. I’d be satisfied with a gold”