A Collegiate Path to Olympic Success: Canada’s Olympians at Paris 2024

With the Paris 2024 Olympic Games done and dusted, Canada has secured a series of medals in a range of events. Among them: a golden sweep in the hammer throw events by Camryn Rogers and Ethan Katzberg, 4x100-meter relay gold for the men (and a seventh Olympic medal for Andre De Grasse), the pole vault podium and a national record for Alysha Newman, and 800m silver with the fourth fastest time in history for Marco Arop. Just as the NCAA is a breeding ground for American track and field Olympians, college track and field’s premier division contributes to the development of Canadian athletes with NCAA stars being named to Team Canada’s roster for the Olympics every four years. Additionally, so does Canada’s university athletics association - U SPORTS. Let’s take a look at some NCAA and U SPORTS/NAIA alumni (and maybe even a current collegiate) who showcased their track and field talent on the global stage at the 2024 Games in Paris, France.

(Note this is not a comprehensive list of all Canadians at the Paris Olympics.)

U SPORTS

For more information on U SPORTS track and field, check out this article on the collegiate track and field landscape. If you’re a high school track and field athlete, book your personal advising session with a recruitment expert to find out if U SPORTS is the right opportunity for you. Browse all the U SPORTS track and field teams here.

In Paris, the Canadian roster was loaded with U SPORTS talent and for high school track and field student-athletes (and their parents/guardians), it’s important to note that getting a Canadian education while competing in U SPORTS can provide elite athletic development and even lead to Olympic opportunities in the future.  

Regan Yee, Trinity Western University

Hailing from Trinity Western University in British Columbia, Reagan Yee is just one of the many U SPORTS track and field athletes to compete at the Paris Olympics. Boasting a personal best of 9:24.82 in the 3000 meter steeplechase, Yee took on a fearsome field to finish 12th in her heat this year. Yee also holds a wide range of impressive personal bests including a 4:24 mile and 15:01 for 5000 meters. Regan Yee has a special interest in educating the next generation of student-athletes and is also one of Streamline Athletes' Olympian Recruitment Advisors! Interested in receiving in-depth recruitment advising with Regan? read more here.

Regan Yee’s Progression & Highlights

High school PBs:

• 800 meters: 2:14.10
• 1500 meters: 4:40.91
• 2000 meter steeplechase: 6:43.22

Collegiate PBs:

• 800 meters: 2:06.99,
• 1500 meters: 4:09.29
• 3000 meter steeplechase: 9:37.31

Professional PBs:

• 800 meters:
• 1500 meters: 4:08.92
• 3000 meter steeplechase: 9:24.82

Career highlights:

• 5 time U SPORTS national champion
• 7th at the World Cross Country Championships (2019)
• Qualified for the 2019, 2022, and 2023 World Championships
• Qualified for the 2021 and 2024 Olympic games

Kieran Lumb, University of British Columbia

Kieran Lumb is another U SPORTS/NAIA Olympic success story. Having performed admirably at the Canadian trials, Lumb made Paris for the 1500 meters before being eliminated after placing fifth in the repechage round. Having competed for the University of British Columbia, Lumb was challenging the top flight of NCAA athletes and even some pros during his U SPORTS/NAIA days. A unique side note about UBC - Kieran has competed in both U SPORTS in XC and in the NAIA for track all while attending UBC, as the XC/T&F programs are split between the two associations. By the end of his career at UBC, he made an appearance in the diamond league running 7:46.28 for 3000 meters before transferring to the University of Washington where he went on to be a three-time All-American.

Kieran Lumb’s Progression & Highlights

High school PBs:

• 800 meters: 1:58.66
• 1200 meters: 3:45.20

Collegiate PBs:

• 1500 meters: 3:34.55
• 1 mile:  3:52.62
• 3000 meters: 7:43.27

Professional PBs:

• 1500 meters: 3:34.55
• 1 Mile: 3:52.62
• 3000 meters: 7:36.46

Career highlights:

• National record holder in the indoor 3000 meters, outdoor 3000 meters, and the road mile
• Three time NCAA All-American and U SPORTS cross country national champion
• Qualified for the 2023 World Championships and the 2024 Olympic games

Lucia Stafford, University of Toronto

Canadian 1500 meter specialist Lucia Stafford is another U SPORTS athlete to earn a ticket to Paris. A University of Toronto alum, Stafford qualified for her second Olympic team in Paris, finishing fifth in her heat of the repechage round. A three-time All-Canadian, U SPORTS national champion and Female Athlete of the Year - Lucia grew into a dominant mid-distance athlete to wrap up her U SPORTS competition. Having fought through grave’s disease since her early career, Stafford has remained a top 35 athlete in the 1500 for the past four years.

Lucia Stafford’s Progression & Highlights

High school PBs:

• 800 meters: 2:05.32
• 1500 meters: 4:16.86

Collegiate PBs:

• 800 meters: 2:00.80
• 1500 meters: 4:05.70
• 1 mile: 4:31.42

Professional PBs:

• 800 meters: 2:00.47
• 1500 meters: 4:02.03
• 1 mile: 4:22.72

Career highlights:

• 2017 Pan American U20 1500 meter champion
• U SPORTS Female Athlete of the Year across all sports (2019-20)
• Qualified for the 2021 and 2024 Olympic games

Audrey Leduc, Université Laval

With 2024 having been a breakout year for Audrey Leduc, she qualified for the Paris Olympics in the 100, 200 and 4x100. Within the year she set the national record in the 100 and 200 along with earning multiple U SPORTS titles with Laval. Competing in her first Olympics, she made it through to the semi finals in the 100, and 200, narrowly missing both finals but beating her previously set national record in the 100m with a time of 10.94. With this being her first year as a professional, Leduc certainly has a bright future ahead of her.

Audrey Leduc’s Progression & Highlights

High school PBs:

• 100 meters: 11.92
• 200 meters: 26.39

Collegiate PBs:

• 100 meters: 11.30
• 200 meters: 23.62

Professional PBs:

• 100 meters: 10.95
• 200 meters: 22.36

Career highlights:

• Was a part of the sixth place Canadian 4x100m at the Paris Olympics
• Multiple U SPORTS national championships
• Current 100m, 200m national record holder

Charles Philibert-Thiboutot, Université Laval

At the age of 33, Charles Philibert-Thiboutot is a veteran of middle distance racing. Having started his college career with decent but not incredible PBs, CPT would go on to have an incredible college career at Université Laval. Lowering his personal best in the 1500 by nearly thirty seconds during his time at Laval, CPT won the CIS 1500 meter Championships in 2014. As a professional, CPT has had his ups and downs, dealing with multiple years of injury and failures. After making the 2015 world championships and the 2016 Rio Olympics, he failed to qualify for a major championship for six consecutive years. He made his return at the 2022 world championships and made his way all the way to the semi finals for the Olympics in Paris.

Charles Philibert-Thiboutot’s Progression & Highlights

High school PBs:

• 800 meters: 1:58
• 1500 meters: 4:07
• 3000 meters: 9:07

Collegiate PBs:

• 800 meters: 1:47.68
• 1500 meters: 3:38.33
• 3000 meters: 7:53.99

Professional PBs:

• 800 meters: 1:47.57
• 1500 meters: 3:32.94
• 3000 meters: 7:35.73

Career highlights:

• Qualified for the 2016 and 2024 Olympics
• Canadian national record holder in the outdoor 3000, and 2000 meters

NCAA

For more information on NCAA track and field, check out this article on the collegiate track and field landscape. If you’re a high school track and field athlete, book your personal advising session with a recruitment expert to find out if NCAA (including Divisions I, II, and III) is the right opportunity for you. Browse all the NCAA track and field teams here.

Camryn Rogers, University of California, Berkeley

Born and raised in Richmond, British Columbia, Camryn Rogers was a Canadian high school national champion before moving to the United States. In 2017 she began competing for Cal Berkeley, winning a Pan American U20 title in her freshman year and a world U20 title her sophomore year. Following up these performances, she won her first NCAA hammer throw title in 2019, Berkeley’s first women's NCAA title since 2008. Since then she’s won nearly every hammer throw she’s competed in, securing a three-peat of NCAA outdoor titles from 2019-2022 along with the collegiate and Canadian record. After graduating from Berkeley, Rogers competed at the 2022 world championships, earning a silver medal in her second major world championship after a fifth place in Tokyo in 2021. Silver wasn’t good enough for Rogers however as she went on to secure gold at the 2023 world championships and gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Camryn Rogers’ Progression & Highlights

High school PBs:

• Hammer throw: 63.42 m

Collegiate PBs:

• Hammer throw: 77.67 m

Professional PBs:

• Hammer throw: 78.62 m

Career highlights:

• Olympic champion in the hammer throw (2024)
• World champion in the hammer throw (2023)
• Silver medalist in the hammer throw (2023)

Andre De Grasse, University of Southern California

Having been Canada’s top sprinter for nearly the past decade, Andre De Grasse has a massive collection of world and Olympic medals to his name. A former USC Trojan, De Grasse actually began his career at Coffeyville Community College where he competed for two years. Upon transferring to USC, De Grasse’s stock skyrocketed. In his first outdoor season he won the 100 and 200 NCAA titles, breaking the Canadian 200 meter record en route. With that he ended his NCAA career and entered the pro circuit. From 2015 until today, De Grasse has amassed an incredible 7 Olympic medals including gold in the 200 in 2021, and gold in the 4x100 in 2024. This along with five world championship medals has solidified De Grasse as one of the best sprinters of the past decade.

Andre De Grasse’s Progression & Highlights

High school PBs:

• 100 meters: 10.25
• 200 meters: 20.72

Collegiate PBs:

• 100 meters: 9.75 (wind aided)
• 200 meters: 19.58 (wind aided)

Professional PBs:

• 100 meters: 1:47.57
• 200 meters: 3:32.94

Career highlights:

• 200 meter Olympic champion (2021)
• 4x100 meter world and Olympic champion (2023, 2024)
• A combined twelve Olympic and world championship medals (2015-2024)

Alysha Newman, University of Miami

A London Ontario native, Alysha Newman began her NCAA career at Eastern Michigan, earning a Mid-American Conference title before transferring to the University of Miami after her first year. Come 2016, Newman set the ACC record and Canadian national record on her way to a second place finish at the NCAA outdoor championships. After graduating in 2016, Newman began her pro career, making the Rio Olympic team fresh out of college. Since then she’s gone on to make two more Olympic teams and three world teams. Her crowning achievement came at the Paris Olympics however where she set a national record again and secured bronze. This became Canada’s first pole vault medal in over 100 years.

Alysha Newman’s Progression & Highlights

High school PBs:

• Pole vault: 3.80 m

Collegiate PBs:

• Pole vault: 4.50 m

Professional PBs:

• Pole vault: 4.85 m

Career highlights:

• Olympic bronze medalist in the pole vault (2024)
• 5x NCAA All-American

Rory Linkletter, Brigham Young University

A critical element of the formidable BYU Cougars cross country team, Rory Linkletter has developed into a top flight marathoner. While he was never the outright leader of BYU cross country during his time there, he helped the Cougars earn 7th, 3rd and 2nd place team finishes. Earning his first Olympic marathon berth with a 2:08 performance at the Seville marathon, Linkletter finished his first Olympic games in 43rd place. Linkletter has extensive experience on the international stage however, having competed in three world cross country championships and two world championships marathons.

Rory Linkletter's Progression & Highlights

High school PBs:

• 3200 meters: 9:15.31
• 5000 meters (XC): 16:01.7

Collegiate PBs:

• 5000 meters: 13:36.07
• 10000 meters: 28:12.42

Professional PBs:

• 10000 meters: 28:12.42
• Marathon: 2:08:01

Career highlights:

• Qualified for the 2024 Olympics
• 7x NCAA All-American

Marco Arop, Mississippi State University

While he wasn’t able to secure gold, Marco Arop delivered possibly the best performances of all of Canadian athletics at the Paris Olympics. Securing the silver medal in the 800 meters, he ran a scarcely believable time of 1:41.20, a personal best, national record and North American record. Had he run that time in any other Olympic final, barring 2012 where the world record was set, it would have been good enough for gold. A former Mississippi State bulldog, Arop competed for the team in 2018 where he finished second at the NCAA outdoor championships. This would be his only major NCAA achievement however as he then made the transition to the pro scene in 2019. Since then Arop has proved to be one of the best middle distance runners in the world with Bronze at the 2022 world championships, gold in 2023, and the aforementioned Olympic silver in 2024. Arop is a naturalized Canadian citizen, having emigrated from Egypt when he was young. He now lives in Edmonton Alberta and is a part of the Running Room Athletic Club Alberta.

Marco Arop’s Progression & Highlights

High school PBs:

• 800 meters: 1:47.08

Collegiate PBs:

• 800 meters: 1:45.25

Professional PBs:

• 800 meters: 1:41.20

Career highlights:

• Silver medalist in the Olympic 800 meters (2024)
• World champion in the 800 meters (2023)
• Bronze medalist in the world championship 800 meters (2022)

The Canadian Athletics contingent at the 2024 Olympics in Paris all came from a variety of backgrounds to achieve the glory of being called an Olympian - and some reached the ultimate achievement. A lesson every aspiring collegiate athlete can take away is that whether it be U SPORTS, NAIA, NJCAA, or the NCAA, you can find success in what you do. The association you are in means much less than the work you put in to achieve your goals.

Remember what is ultimately most important to you when you are deciding on where to pursue your college athletics and you can't go wrong.