Celebrated Canadian sprinter Andre De Grasse and Olympic head coach Glenroy Gilbert have joined growing opposition against McGill University's decision to eliminate multiple varsity sports teams, warning the move will have damaging consequences for athletes across Canada.
National Impact of University Decision
The recent announcement from McGill University to discontinue 16 varsity and competitive sports teams for the 2026-27 academic year has drawn strong criticism from Canada's athletic community. Andre De Grasse, Canada's most decorated Olympian with seven medals, emphasized that the implications extend far beyond Montreal.
"What's happening at McGill matters across Canada," De Grasse told The Gazette. "When a leading university cuts a program like this, it sends the wrong message to current and future athletes and to university leadership across the country."
The seven-time Olympic medallist, who competed in track and field at the University of Southern California, stressed the importance of maintaining strong university sports programs. "These teams create opportunity, community and a sense of belonging for student-athletes," he said.
Sports Programs Facing Elimination
McGill's sweeping overhaul targets numerous sports, including men's and women's track and field, which has particularly concerned Olympic officials. The complete list of discontinued programs includes:
- Badminton and baseball
- Fencing and logger sports
- Nordic skiing and women's rugby
- Women's field hockey and sailing
- Figure skating and golf
- Women's lacrosse and squash
- Tennis and men's volleyball
- Both men's and women's track and field
This represents one of the most significant contractions of McGill's athletics program in decades, affecting hundreds of student-athletes.
Olympic Community Voices Concern
Glenroy Gilbert, Canada's Olympic head coach and a five-time Olympian himself, highlighted the practical implications for high-performance athletes. "It's not like we have a lot of indoor facilities in this country to begin with," said Gilbert, who is inducted in the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame.
"For track and field, McGill has always been a welcoming venue for high-performance athletes. At a time when athletes require more support, losing one of the few reliable indoor options in the country is more than a setback, it hurts the sport as a whole."
Gilbert added that "to lose a place like McGill is going to be a significant blow" to Canadian athletics development.
McGill University boasts an impressive Olympic legacy, with 156 Olympians and 34 Olympic medals among its alumni, though De Grasse never competed for the institution.
De Grasse specifically addressed the importance of track and field, noting that "track and field has always been one of our most diverse and inclusive sports, and it deserves to be protected, not eliminated. I really hope my voice, along with thousands of others, will help the university reverse its decision."
University Defends Decision
University administrators have defended the cuts, citing an internal audit that revealed the athletics program had "outgrown its capacity." Perry Karnofsky, McGill's director of services, wellness programs and facility operations, explained that "one of the themes that came out of our audit was there was a need to re-evaluate the way we offer sports and more particularly competitive sport here at McGill."
The assessment considered multiple factors including staffing workload, financial sustainability, equipment needs and communications support. When asked if the cuts are final, Karnofsky stated: "As far as the conclusions that we have come to now, I would say yes."
This isn't the first time McGill has faced controversy over sports funding. In 1970, the university voted to cancel funding for intercollegiate sports amid provincial pressure and growing deficits, but reversed the decision following outrage from students, graduates and donors.
The current decision has united students, alumni, sports figures and broadcasters in calling for reconsideration, echoing the successful pushback from five decades earlier.
