Veteran Gervais leads Canada into world championship with Olympic bid on the line

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.

The top-two finishers will secure Olympic berths. If the United States reaches the gold-medal game, then the top-three teams will advance, as the Americans already have a spot in Los Angeles as host.

The world championship isn’t the last Olympic qualifying event. But failing to do so in Germany would mean participating in next year’s IFAF continental championship and then the final Olympic qualifier series in 2028.

Canada is a definite gold-medal threat in Germany. It qualified for the world championship by reaching the final of last year’s IFAF Americas Continental championship in Panama, losing 12-0 to Mexico in a contest halted in the first half by severe weather.

Gervais, 36, of Maskinongé, Que., is hopeful Canada not only faces Mexico in Germany but can play an entire game this time.

“Of course, we’ve been working on improving to play them,” she said. “Hopefully we’ll see each other (but) we’re ready.

“We can just learn from what happened last year and do our best.”

Canada also won a bronze medal at the 2025 World Games in China, its first-ever international women’s flag football hardware. So the Canadians won’t have the element of surprise in Germany.

“I feel like people are starting to know us,” Gervais said. “We beat the U.S. (34-33 at USA Football Summer Series on June 19), and I think people are starting to talk about us more.

“But for us, we just play our best, and the results will come.”

Gervais has been playing flag football for 24 years and is a veteran of the national team. That’s meant juggling football with being a mother to 10-year-old twins (boy and girl) and working full-time as an osteopath and kinesiologist.

“Being a mom helps me be more resilient, more patient,” Gervais said. “I also have a great support group that’s there for the kids when needed.

“I don’t skip workouts and feel when you get older you know your body better so you know how to push it and when you need rest. Rest is a big part of staying healthy, so good sleep habits and feeding my body well help me stay on top.”

And to continue mentoring younger Canadian players.

“I try to stay positive all of the time; I try to stay in the moment,” Gervais said. “With new girls coming, I’m trying to get to know them the best I can so I can help them when things get rough on the field.

“Part of my leadership is working around their strategies to help them. I think it makes a big difference on the field.”

Gervais also credits head coach Rachel Lessard for Canada’s global success.

“She has such great values that she wants us to implement,” Gervais said. “She’s the leader of the team as head coach, and we feel very supported by her.

“I also feel it’s amazing to have a woman as head coach. She’s the only one of the national programs all over the world.”

But Gervais believes talent isn’t Canada’s biggest asset in Germany.

“I feel we have great chemistry,” she said. “At this level you don’t just need great athletes, you need to be a unit on offence and defence.

“We’re a team, we’re a full unit … that’s what makes our team so strong.”

Gervais hasn’t decided how much longer she’ll play. And she’s certainly not allowing herself to think about adding an Olympic medal to her list of accomplishments.

“No, no, I’m going one day at a time,” she said. “But I still really enjoy it and as long as I do I’ll stay on the field.

“But also a part (of still playing) is showing people what you’re capable of and that if you put your mind to it, you can achieve anything you want … I feel I can still make an impact, on and off the field, with the new generation.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 10, 2026.

Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

Veteran Gervais leads Canada into world championship with Olympic bid on the line

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