Natalie Spooner is heading back to the Olympics after being named to Canada’s women’s hockey team, but her celebration comes with a warning about the growing financial burden facing elite athletes.
The roster announcement on Friday confirms the three-time Olympian will have a chance to defend the gold medal Canada won at the 2022 Beijing Games.
“It’s a dream come true. I’m so excited and looking forward to being there with our team,” said Natalie Spooner, adding that the team’s experience and depth give Canada a strong chance to repeat.
Spooner also stressed the importance of funding programs such as Ontario’s Quest for Gold, noting that training, travel, physiotherapy, and proper nutrition have become increasingly expensive.
Her comments echo concerns raised by the Canadian Olympic Committee, which says federal sport funding has remained largely unchanged since 2005 despite rising costs. CEO David Shoemaker warned that many athletes are going into debt, putting Canada at a competitive disadvantage internationally.
To cope, some athletes take on side jobs or launch businesses. Speed skater Hayden Mayeur runs a mobile coffee company employing fellow athletes, while others, including luger Trinity Ellis, have turned to service-industry work to support their training.
The federal government says athlete allowances were increased by 23 per cent in 2024 and additional funding was allocated for mental health services, but many athletes say the gap between costs and support remains wide.
As Spooner prepares for another Olympic run, the message from athletes is clear: winning gold increasingly comes at a significant personal cost.