Canadian bobsledder Tobi Ade dreams of representing his country at the 2026 Winter Olympics, but the cost forces him to make significant financial sacrifices.
Video: The Calgary Journal’s Ali Murji reports on Ade’s relentless pursuit of his Olympic dream
Ade pays $25,000 in team fees to compete this year in qualifiers, continental and international competitions. To offset the costs, Ade relies on full-time work as an engineer in training, local sponsorships, and his support system.
“I’ve relied a bit on my family as well, and kind of just saving up money as well. I’ve had to dip into my own funds, but that’s just how it goes. You’ll find that all athletes have different ways of raising money,” said Ade.
The elite athlete isn’t an outlier, but a reality for other athletes.
Financial tension pushing athletes to the brink
CanFund Statistics estimates that three in five athletes have a “negative net income” due to their lifestyles. Winter sport athletes take the worst of it, with 40 per cent of the world’s top 20 athletes in their sport in debt.
Athletes must pay team fees, equipment costs, special nutritional diets, travel and transport fees to compete at the highest levels.
For Ade and his four-man team, shipping a bobsled across continents can cost thousands of dollars.
“Compared to some of the other nations, we don’t receive as much support as we would hope to or have maybe received in the past,” said Ade.
Athletes are eligible to receive money from federal programs such as the Athletes Assistance Program or Own The Podium, totalling about $2,200.
Kerry Dankers, a former Canadian speed skater and Olympian from the 2006 Turin Games, explains that the difficulty has increased tremendously due to inflation and rising living expenses.
“When I was growing up in Calgary, I was spending about $325 on my rent,” said Dankers. “I know that’s a totally different reality for athletes nowadays. So it’s not only what you need to buy for equipment to get to competitions for travel, but it’s also just life in general is a lot more expensive.”
Looking for solutions
Dankers is now the CEO of Biathlon Canada and hopes the public, sponsors and government understand the importance of funding sport and athletes.
“I think (we need) an acknowledgement of what sport really does for our country. So not only in physical health, but mental health, community building, the importance of growing leaders, and having people who really believe in teamwork and know how to work on teams,” said Dankers.
As for Ade, he has his eyes on qualifying for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.
“Putting the maple leaf on your back and everything, it truly is an honour. And, you know, I think when I was younger, I definitely had dreams of doing this, maybe not in bobsledding, but to have the ability to do this while I’m in the sport and while I’m here, I want to wear it with honour.”