Gabriela
DeBues-StafforD

Gabriela DeBues-Stafford is Canada’s top middle distance runner. Having placed 5th, just seconds off the podium in her second Canadian Olympic appearance, Gabriela is seeking a podium finish in the next Summer Olympic Games, in Paris 2024.

It came as no surprise when the Toronto, ON native found her way into running. Her father and aunt both represented Canada at World Championships, her uncle was a provincial champ, and her mother was her high school track coach.

Gabriela is no stranger to overcoming adversity. When she was just 13, her coach, her mother passed away from a rare form of Leukemia, presenting challenges no 13 year old should go though, both on and off the track. It was during this period Gabriela and her family began emphatically fundraising for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada. As a young teen, these efforts off the track gave Gabriela purpose for something bigger.

Gabriela went on to join the University of Toronto’s varsity during her undergraduate degree. While still a student, Gabriela won multiple senior national titles and competed at the 2016 Rio Olympics and 2017 World Championships. In 2019, she graduated from U of T and tore up the record books breaking 7 different events ranging from the 1500m to the 5000m. In particular, G became the first Canadian woman to ever break the hallowed 4:00 minute barrier in the 1500m event, as well as having the North American Indoor 5000m record title to date.

Gabriela now lives in Victoria, British Columbia with her husband. Openly queer, she is a passionate advocate for causes close to her heart, from fundraising for storm relief in Texas following Storm Uri, to dying her hair rainbow at the Tokyo Games, representing the LGBTQ2+ community on the world's biggest sporting stage.

G is an athlete that will be remembered for her work on and off the field of play. She stands tall for what she believes in and is continuing to break barriers on and off the track. Paris2024 here we come!

ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2x Canadian olympian

  5th- women’s 1500 2020 Tokyo Olympics

• current nacac indoor 5000m record holder