Sabrina Gervais, a mother, healthcare worker, and seasoned flag football player, is aiming to add the title of Olympian to her list of achievements. The experienced defensive back is leading Canada’s national women’s team in the forthcoming 2026 world championship, with aspirations not only for a gold medal but also for a spot in the 2028 Los Angeles Games, where flag football will make its Olympic debut.
Expressing her excitement, Gervais mentioned, “It would be realizing a dream I would’ve never dreamt before. I never thought about the Olympics, but now that I’m still in the loop, I think the chances are good if I can stay healthy and continue to be a leader for my team. That would definitely be a dream come true.”
The International Federation of American Football (IFAF) world championship is set to commence in Düsseldorf, Germany, with Canada scheduled to play against Panama and Brazil before taking on Japan. The top two teams at the championship will secure Olympic berths, with a possibility of a third team if the United States reaches the gold-medal game due to their host status in Los Angeles.
Canada, a strong contender for the gold medal, earned its spot at the world championship by finishing as the runner-up in last year’s IFAF Americas Continental championship. Despite facing Mexico in a game cut short by severe weather, Gervais and the Canadian team are eager for a rematch and a chance to showcase their skills.
With a bronze medal from the 2025 World Games in China under their belt, Canada is no stranger to international success in women’s flag football. Gervais, a veteran of the sport for 24 years, manages her football commitments alongside being a dedicated mother and working full-time as an osteopath and kinesiologist. She emphasizes the importance of rest, proper nutrition, and staying positive to maintain peak performance on and off the field.
Gervais remains focused on the present, taking each day as it comes, without getting ahead of herself about potential future achievements. She believes in leading by example and supporting the next generation of Canadian players, highlighting the importance of teamwork and unity in achieving success at the highest level of competition.