Sabrina Gervais is not just a mom and a health-care professional; she is also a seasoned flag football player. Now, she is aiming to add “Olympian” to her list of achievements.
As the veteran defensive back, Gervais is leading Canada’s national women’s team in the 2026 world championship. The team’s goal is not only to secure a gold medal but also to earn 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 kick off in Düsseldorf, Germany, starting Thursday. Canada will face Panama and Brazil before taking on Japan in their upcoming matches.
The top two teams in the championship will secure Olympic berths. However, if the United States reaches the gold-medal game, the top three teams will advance, considering the U.S. already has a guaranteed spot in the 2028 Olympics as the host nation.
Despite the world championship being a crucial qualifying event, failing to secure a spot in Germany would mean participating in next year’s IFAF continental championship and then the final Olympic qualifier series in 2028.
Canada is a strong contender for the gold medal in Germany, having qualified for the world championship after finishing as runners-up in last year’s IFAF Americas Continental championship in Panama, where they lost to Mexico in a weather-affected game.
Looking ahead to the tournament, Gervais, hailing from Maskinonge, Que., expressed her hope to face Mexico again and play a complete game this time. She stated, “Of course, we’ve been working on improving to play them. Hopefully, we’ll see each other, but we’re ready. We can just learn from what happened last year and do our best.”
Canada’s success in international competitions, including winning a bronze medal at the 2025 World Games in China, has brought them recognition. Gervais acknowledged this, saying, “I feel like people are starting to know us. We beat the U.S., and I think people are starting to talk about us more. But for us, we just play our best, and the results will come.”
Apart from her flag football pursuits, Gervais, a 36-year-old from Quebec, has been juggling her football career with motherhood and a full-time job as an osteopath and kinesiologist. She credits her resilience and patience to being a mother and emphasizes the importance of good sleep and nutrition for maintaining her fitness levels.
Embracing her role as a mentor to younger players, Gervais focuses on staying positive and building strong relationships with her teammates. She also commends head coach Rachel Lessard for her leadership and values that have contributed to Canada’s success on the global stage.
While Gervais has not decided on the duration of her playing career, she remains focused on taking each day as it comes. She finds joy in playing the sport and aims to inspire others to achieve their goals, both on and off the field.
Gervais believes that Canada’s strength lies not only in talent but also in their team chemistry. She emphasized the importance of unity on both offense and defense, highlighting that their cohesion as a team sets them apart.
As she continues to make an impact in the sport, Gervais remains dedicated to showcasing her capabilities and inspiring the new generation to strive for their dreams.