Veteran Sabrina Gervais leads Canada into world championship with Olympic bid on the line
Veteran athlete Sabrina Gervais is leading Canada's national flag football team into the IFAF world championship in Germany. The tournament serves as a critical qualifier for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where the sport will make its debut.
Why it matters
Flag football's inclusion in the Olympics has elevated the profile of the sport, making international championships high-stakes events for national teams.
The veteran defensive back leads Canada's national women's team into the 2026 world championship. Not only will the Canadians chase a gold medal but also a berth into the 2028 Los Angeles Games, where flag football makes its Olympic debut.
"It would be realizing a dream I would've never dreamt before," Gervais said. "I never thought about (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.
The International Federation of American Football (IFAF) world championship begins Thursday in Duesseldorf, Germany. Canada opens against Panama and Brazil before facing Japan on Friday.
Sara Parker, Marc-Antoine Dequoy highlight Canada's flag football rosters for world championships
Quarterback Sara Parker looking to add Olympian to impressive flag football resume
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