Since 1974, Sask Lotteries has helped individuals in Saskatchewan achieve dreams as the main fundraiser for more than 12,000 sport, culture and recreation groups across the province.
Lottery sales have contributed more than $1.4 billion including helping 208 athletes reach amateur sport’s top stage the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Support is no different for the hopefuls in 2026. Outstanding athletes, coaches and support staff are vying for spots on Team Canada.
As we document this journey through cheeronsask.ca, let’s set the scene.
Community pride
Saskatchewan’s Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls didn’t get to this point in their careers alone! They are part of a robust amateur sport community that creates high-quality opportunities and support for athletes to reach the top of their game.
In Saskatchewan, from the small towns to the larger cities, many of these sport programs are supported by Sask Lotteries, as one of the 12,000 sport, culture and recreation groups, through the sale of lottery products.
Sask Lotteries funding also helps to empower coaches, officials and volunteers that help the future Olympic and Paralympic athletic stars reach the next level.
The athletes on the hopefuls list come from all corners of the province and wouldn’t be where they are without those that supported them along the way! So next time you see a Saskatchewan athlete on the world stage, be sure to cheer them on and thank a local coach, official and volunteer – all whom help create opportunities today and into the future.
History of success
Fun Facts:
Saskatoon’s Ethel Catherwood was part of a group of six Canadian women to compete at the 1928 Summer Games in Amsterdam – the first Olympics to allow female competitors. To this day, she is the only female to win a gold medal in Athletics at the Games after her high jump of 1.59-metres. She was known as the Saskatoon Lily.
Lisa Franks competed in three Paralympic Games in two different sports. The Moose Javian wheelchair-raced her way to four gold and one silver medal at the 2000 Games in Sydney, and followed her performance up with two more golds in the 2004 Athens Paralympics. She then attended the 2008 Beijing Paralympics as a member of the Canadian Women’s Wheelchair Basketball team. She was the first person from Saskatchewan to crack the Canadian roster.
Saskatchewan has won three men’s rowing medals – two by Jake Wetzel. He claimed gold in the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the men’s eights adding to a silver medal from the 2004 Athens Games in the men’s coxless four. Fellow Saskatchewan rower Cameron Baerg was also in the Athens boat.
Kelly Parker and Kaylyn Kyle, both from Saskatoon, were members of the Canadian women’s soccer team who captured bronze at the 2012 Olympics in London. The medal was the first for a traditional Summer Olympic team sport for Canada since the men’s basketball team won silver in 1936.
Saskatchewan athletes made history multiple times at the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics in Paris. Carissa Norsten and the Canadian women’s 7s rugby team captured silver for the first time in the event, while Rylan Wiens claimed Canada’s first-ever medal, a bronze, in men’s 10-metre synchronized diving, as did Julie Kozun with the Canadian women’s sitting volleyball team.
More Saskatchewan Olympic and Paralympic History
Join us!
Follow along with us and use the hashtag #SaskProud leading into and through the 2026 Paris Olympics and Paralympics!