Canadian Olympic Foundation
Next Gen: Powering the Next Generation
Olympic success does not happen overnight.
Across Canada, young athletes have the talent, drive, and potential to excel. What they need are the opportunities and resources to match.
The Next Gen Initiative supports Canada’s most promising athletes who are on the path to future Olympic Games. Next Gen support provides access to world-class coaching, training environments, competition opportunities, and sport science expertise, helping athletes reach their full potential and gain invaluable experience.
By investing in Next Gen talent today, you help accelerate athlete development and strengthen the pipeline of Team Canada athletes who will inspire Canadians in the years ahead.
Generational Opportunity For Canadian Sport
As Team Canada looks ahead to LA 2028, French Alps 2030 and beyond, the future of Canadian sport is being strengthened through unprecedented investment.
The Government of Canada has announced it will double its current annual investment in Next Gen, which is already matched dollar for dollar by the Canadian Olympic Foundation, Canadian Olympic Committee, and Paralympic Foundation of Canada. This expanded commitment will double the program’s impact, creating an unprecedented opportunity to reach more athletes at a critical stage in their development and strengthen Canada’s pipeline of future Olympic contenders.
The Impact Of Next Gen
Since 2017, Next Gen has helped emerging athletes access the resources, coaching, and competition opportunities needed to progress along the pathway to future Olympic Games. The results demonstrate the long-term impact of investing in athlete development.
Your Impact in Numbers
- 4,283 athletes have been supported through Next Gen since 2016
- Approx. 1,000 athletes are supported annually from coast-to-coast-to-cost across 43 National Sports Organizations
- 387 Next Gen-supported athletes have competed at an Olympic Games
- 74 Next Gen-supported athletes have gone on to win Olympic medals
2025-2026 Reach
946
ATHLETES SUPPORTED
466
FEMALE ATHLETES SUPPORTED
43
SPORTS FUNDED
480
MALE ATHLETES SUPPORTED
ATHLETES BY GENDER
| Summer | Winter | Percentage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 389 | 77 | 49% |
| Male | 380 | 100 | 51% |
| Total | 769 | 177 |
ATHLETES BY PROVINCE – V1
ATHLETES BY PROVINCE – V2
2025-2026 SUPPORTED SPORTS
Alpine Skiing
Archery
Artistic Swimming
Athletics
Basketball
3×3 Basketball
Beach Volleyball
Biathlon
Bobsleigh
Boxing
Canoe Kayak
Cross Country Skiing
Curling
Cycling
Diving
Fencing
Figure Skating
Freestyle Skiing
Golf
Gymnastics
Ice Hockey (W)
Judo
Lacrosse
Long Track Speed Skating
Luge
Rowing
Rugby
Sailing
Short Track Speed Skating
Skateboard
Skeleton
Ski Cross
Ski Jumping
Snowboard
Soccer (W)
Softball
Swimming
Tennis
Triathlon
Volleyball (W)
Water Polo
Weightlifting
Wrestling
Athlete Spotlights – V1
Two-time Olympic Medallist Megan Oldham, Freestyle Skiing
“Having the financial support and the belief just makes the journey a lot easier. It’s really cool that Next Gen is able to help athletes reach their full potential. Without that support, I wouldn’t have made it to this level. This support has allowed me to really push my skiing capabilities and make it to a level that I never thought I would.”
Athlete Spotlights – V2
Eliot Grondin was a double medallist during his second Olympic appearance at Beijing 2022, and the 2025 world champion in his sport. At Milano Cortina 2026, Grondin won his second straight Olympic silver medal in men’s snowboard cross, bringing his Olympic medal total to three.
Isabelle Weidemann was a Next Gen athlete ahead of her first Olympic appearance at PyeongChang 2018. Four years later, she competed again at Beijing 2022 winning a gold, silver and bronze, and was named Canada’s closing ceremony flagbearer. At Milano Cortina 2026, she won a second Olympic gold in the women’s team pursuit.
Meet Previous Next Gen Athletes
Ann-Renée Desbiens is a three-time Olympic medallist, having won gold in women’s hockey at Beijing 2022 as well as silver…
Ben Hebert is a three-time Olympian and a two-time Olympic gold medallist. He is also a two-time world champion and…
Blayre Turnbull is a three-time Olympic medallist, having won gold in women’s hockey at Beijing 2022 to go with silver…
Bo Horvat is set to make his Olympic debut at Milano Cortina 2026. He has twice been part of Team…
Brad Marchand is set to make his Olympic debut at Milano Cortina 2026. He first played for the senior national…
Brandon Hagel made his Olympic debut at Milano Cortina 2026 where he helped Canada win the silver medal in men’s…
Donor Impact
By supporting the Next Gen Initiative, you help Canada’s most promising athletes access the opportunities, resources, and expertise they need to reach their full potential.
Today’s Next Gen athletes are tomorrow’s Team Canada Olympians. Your investment is helping strengthen the pipeline of Team Canada athletes who will represent Canada at LA 2028, French Alps 2030, and beyond.