OTTAWA, ON (May 7, 2025) – Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC) announces the departure of Sprint Head Coach, Anders Gustafsson.
Gustafsson, a decorated former Swedish kayaker, joined Canada’s sprint national high-performance team as Head Coach in 2017. During his tenure, Gustafsson helped build a strong team culture and contributed to the podium success of many Canadian athletes. His leadership and expertise have contributed to the growth and development of Canadian paddlers on the international stage, including the U23 and senior world championships and multiple medals at Tokyo 2020 and the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
“Anders has been a leader in building a culture of world-leading performance for Canoe Kayak Canada,” said Ian Mortimer, Chief Technical Officer. “His commitment to supporting our athletes and coaches to push toward continued improvement in a positive team environment will leave a strong legacy within our program.”
In 2019, Gustafsson took an 18-month sabbatical to pursue a dream opportunity for his second America’s Cup campaign—the pinnacle of yacht racing. He returned to CKC in the lead-up to the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, driving podium-performing teams over the last two quadrennials.
Fittingly, Gustafsson has accepted the role of High Performance Director at Sail Canada, and we have the utmost confidence that his extensive leadership experience and proven track record in high-performance will make him a valuable asset to their organization.
“It is with mixed emotions that we announce the departure of Anders Gustafsson as our Head Coach,” said CKC Chief Executive Officer Casey Wade. “He has offered so much to the organization and played a key role in building our high-performance program, including podium success in Tokyo and Paris. This is a great opportunity for Anders and a great fit for Sail Canada. We wish him all the best!
Gustafsson will continue to support the CKC sprint teams through the World Cup events this month and transition to this new opportunity in June.
“It has been a privilege to contribute to a passionate and committed team at Canoe Kayak Canada over the past several years. I am proud of what we’ve achieved together—from building a resilient team culture to celebrating success on the world stage. I’m grateful to the athletes, coaches, and staff who made this journey meaningful. While it’s difficult to say goodbye, I’m excited for the new challenge ahead with Sail Canada and remain committed to supporting excellence in Canadian sport.”
CKC extends our sincere gratitude to Anders for his extensive contributions to the team’s success and wishes him all the best at Sail Canada.
As with all sports facing significant funding challenges in the Canadian sport system, CKC is currently reviewing funding and related capacity and will evaluate the most appropriate next steps with our national team resources to ensure a successful 2025 international season. In the interim, CKC’s Chief Technical Officer Ian Mortimer, will assume Head Coach decision-making responsibilities.
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Media Contact:
Colleen Coderre
Communications Lead
Canoe Kayak Canada
ccoderre@canoekayak.ca