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Marie-Eloise Leclair: From Montreal Flag Football to the Paris Olympic Relay
At the start of the 2024 season, the Paris Olympics weren't really Marie-Eloise Leclair's goal. She was a 21-year-old sprinter at Simon Fraser University, a former 400m hurdler from Montreal, and not a name anyone had on Canada's relay team. Then she went to World Relays in May. "Once I went to World Relays and kind of got a taste of the whole possibility, I was really locked in on the dream," she told David Stark. A few months later she was on the track in Paris, running for Canada in the Olympic 4x100m relay, with her family in the stands. "I don't think anyone expected this," she said.
The conversation, recorded the day before she flew to World Relays in China, is a fun and honest look at how an athlete who never planned to be an Olympic sprinter became one.
Flag football, soccer and a Montreal childhood
Leclair grew up in Montreal playing everything, soccer especially, but one sport stood out. "I played flag football too. That was my favorite." That multi-sport background built the speed and competitiveness that later showed up on the track, and it's a big part of why she's still a believer in kids playing lots of sports. It also gave her some confidence: she jokes about the people who tell her they could beat her in a race.
A hurdler who was told to stop hurdling
In high school she ran the 400m hurdles, and SFU recruited her in Grade 11 as a hurdler. Her reaction to being recruited was simple: "I was like, oh, someone wants me, great."
SFU was the right fit for another reason. It's the only Canadian university competing in the NCAA, and her mom had strong views about her going south. "My mom was like, you're not going in the States, like no. So SFU was like the perfect in between."
Once she arrived in Vancouver, her coach, Tom, saw something else. She had too much raw speed to spend it on hurdles. His message: "You're so good, don't waste your time on the hurdles." She switched to pure sprinting, and it worked. At SFU she has been named GNAC Female Athlete of the Year, earned 13 NCAA Division II All-American honours and set a national record, while studying science.
From the relay pool to the Olympic team
Leclair wasn't a lock for Paris. She was brought into Canada's relay pool as an outsider and had to earn her spot race by race. "I let it happen," she said. "I just proved myself." World Relays in May turned a vague possibility into a real target, and by summer she was named to the team. "One thing led to another and here we are."
What the Olympics actually felt like
Leclair talks about Paris the way most first-time Olympians do: like it still doesn't feel real. Just stepping onto the Olympic track was huge on its own, and then there was the crowd. "Seeing my family in the stands, that was unreal."
Some of her favourite stories are from behind the scenes. Team Canada's Lululemon podium kit didn't get its big moment on the podium. "I wish I could have worn it on the podium, but our time will come," she said. She wore it for interviews instead, and forgot the sleeves. She made new friends across the team, took a teammate's advice to stop and take it all in, and celebrated with everyone in the village afterwards.
Then Canada's men, including Jerome Blake, won 4x100m gold. Her first, playful reaction: "Here we go again, they're gonna steal our thunder." She's quick to add that they earned every bit of it, and that watching it live was special.
Swimming, creatine and staying humble
Leclair's training isn't only track. She lifts, hikes and swims, and she likes the pool for a reason you might not expect. "Swimming is also a way to humble myself," she said. "It forces me to take it slow, one length at a time." She had also recently started taking creatine and said it left her feeling "more sturdy."
As for sprinters in general, she has a theory about the people on relay teams: "We're all crazy."
Her advice to young athletes
Leclair's message is the one that's kept her in the sport since she was a kid playing flag football. "Don't count yourself out, work hard, and always have fun. That's what kept me in the sport for so long and what allowed me to have all these amazing memories."
Key takeaways
Play lots of sports early. Soccer and flag football built the speed Leclair later used on the track.
Be open to a new event. Leaving the 400m hurdles for pure sprinting took her to the Olympics.
One meet can change your goals. World Relays turned Paris from a long shot into the plan.
Earn your spot. She joined the relay pool as an outsider and proved herself race by race.
Keep it fun. Enjoyment and friendships kept her in the sport long enough to get there.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Marie-Eloise Leclair?
Marie-Eloise Leclair is a Canadian sprinter from Montreal who ran for Canada in the women's 4x100m relay at the Paris 2024 Olympics. She competes for Simon Fraser University, where she is a national record holder and 13-time NCAA Division II All-American.
What school does Marie-Eloise Leclair run for?
She runs for Simon Fraser University (SFU) in the Vancouver area, the only Canadian university competing in the NCAA. She was recruited there as a 400m hurdler before switching to sprints.
What event did Marie-Eloise Leclair compete in at the Paris Olympics?
She was part of Canada's women's 4x100m relay team at Paris 2024, after earning her place through the relay pool and World Relays that May.
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