Not only do Canada Games alumni represent 103 of 316 total athletes competing for Team Canada at the Paris 2024 Olympics, you’ll also notice that many athletes who first competed at the Canada Games are among those who’ve made recent headlines, including medal hopefuls.‍

Click here to see a list of all alumni competing for Team Canada at the Olympics.‍

The list below is just a handful of teams and athletes to keep an eye on as you cheer for Team Canada at the Olympics.

‍Félix Dolci (QC, 2015 & 2019) is no stranger to the podium, having won 6 gold medals and 5 silver medals over two Canada Games appearances, competing in Gymnastics for Team Quebec. Since then, Dolci has medalled in the Commonwealth Games and Pan American Games. In 2023, Dolci became the first Canadian gymnast to win gold in the men’s all-around event at the Pan American Games since 1963.

Poolside, all four captains of the swimming team first appeared at the Canada Games: Jeremy Bagshaw (BC, 2009), Mary-Sophie Harvey (QC, 2013), Josh Liendo (ON, 2017) and Kylie Masse (ON, 2013). Liendo will be making his second Olympic appearance at only 21, and is coming off strong performances in the Commonwealth Games and World Aquatic Championships. A four-time Olympic medalist, Masse will be making her third Olympic appearance as she looks to add to her medal collection. After a standout performance at the most recent Canada Summer Games, Julie Brousseau (ON, 2022) is making her Olympic debut. She tied the record for most medals won in a single Canada Games in Niagara, with eleven total, and then won two gold medals at the 2023 Pan American Games.

Don’t blink, or you might just miss Canada Games alumni Audrey Leduc (QC, 2017 & 2022), who will compete her first ever Olympics, and Andre De Grasse (ON, 2013), making his third Olympic appearance. Leduc has made headlines recently for smashing the Canadian 100m and 200m records, while De Grasse is looking to add another Olympic medal to his name. Shot-putter Sarah Mitton (NS, 2017) will make her second Olympic appearance just months after she broke the Canadian women's indoor shot put record twice to win gold at the World Athletics Indoor Championships. Marco Arop (AB, 2017) will be competing in the 800m, after becoming the first Canadian to win gold in that event at the 2023 World Athletics Championships.

When Sloan MacKenzie (NS, 2022) competed in the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games, she listed Katie Vincent (ON, 2013) as her role model. Two years later, MacKenzie and her role model-turned teammate Vincent will compete together in Paris in the women’s C2 500m. Vincent won bronze in the same event in Tokyo, making history as a medallist in the first Olympic Games to include women’s canoe events.

You may recognize Caeli McKay (AB, 2013) from the box of your Cinnamon Toast Crunch, but we recognize her from the 2013 Canada Games, where McKay won a silver and bronze medal at the age of 14. Since then, McKay has medalled in many international competitions, including bronze at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, and most recently silver and bronze at the 2023 Pan American Games. McKay looks to avenge her 4th place finish in Tokyo 2020 this summer as she competes in her second Olympic Games.

The defending Olympic Champions, Team Canada look to claim their spot on the podium again in 2024. This year, the roster features four Canada Games Alumni: centre-back Vanessa Gilles (ON, 2013), currently playing for Olympique Lyonnais in France, midfielder Julia Grosso (BC, 2017), who recently signed with the Chicago Red Stars, striker Adriana Leon (ON, 2009), who plays for Aston Villa, and Shelina Zadorsky (ON, 2009) of West Ham United. The soccer contingent also includes team manager Nicole McInnis (PE, 2013).

A Canada Games sweep! In 3x3 Basketball, the entire roster and coach are Canada Games alumni. Twin sisters Katherine and Michelle Plouffe (AB, 2009) are making their second and third Olympic appearances, respectively. Paige Crozon (SK, 2009) and Kacie Bosch (AB, 2013) will make their Olympic debuts, while head coach Kim Gaucher (BC, 2001) will make her fourth consecutive Summer Olympics appearance, but her first as a coach. Team Canada is ranked as the number 1 Women’s 3x3 team in the world heading into the Olympics.

Gaucher has also been busy off the field of play, helping to found MOMentum with fellow Paris Olympian, rower Jill Moffatt (ON, 2013). We spoke with Moffatt earlier this year about the initiative, which was recently launched with the aim of making family planning fit more seamlessly into the life and career of an elite athlete.

Canada Games silver medalist Justina Di Stasio (BC, 2009) will be making her first Olympic appearance after representing Canada at two Pan American and Commonwealth Games. In addition to competing on the world stage, Di Stasio is a coach for the Simon Fraser University Wrestling team, passing her knowledge and experience down to the next generation of Canadian wrestlers.