It seems like a perfect fit for Kasia Gruchalla-Wesierski.
From the twists and turns of alpine skiing to the head down and hard work attitude required to capture an Olympic gold medal in rowing, Gruchalla-Wesierski’s track record offers up ideal experiences for her to work as an athlete services officer with the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC).
The Montreal-born, Calgary-raised coach – who was named the Calgary Booster Club’s winner of the Henry Viney Trophy as the 2024 Female Athlete of the Year – is poised to help her nation achieve sporting success in this new position at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.
Gruchalla-Wesierski announced her retirement from the Canadian national rowing team last fall, marking the end of a remarkable career in the sport.
The 34-year-old started out as an alpine skier, but a broken leg caused her to step away from that sport and turn her focus towards rowing. She joined the Calgary Rowing Club when she was 23 years old and made her international debut with the senior national team in 2018. A bronze medal with the women’s eight followed in Rotterdam, Netherlands at the 2019 World Cup.
Gruchalla-Wesierski was selected for the rowing team at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, but a cycling accident weeks before the event left her with a broken collarbone, 56 stitches and other injuries. Undeterred, she rehabilitated her injuries and made a determined return to the boat following just five weeks of recovery. Gruchalla-Wesierski then helped Canada claim its first Olympic gold medal in women’s rowing since 1996.
She and the Canadian women’s eight team also won a silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
“Rowing was the pathway to achieving my wildest dreams, meeting some of my closest friends, and exposing my biggest strengths,” said Gruchalla-Wesierski in a statement from Rowing Canada Aviron (RCA).
“I am so grateful to everyone who believed in us and supported this team, and to those who supported me as an individual. I hope to leave the sport better than I found it and continue to develop the sport in a new capacity … I hope I continue to make a positive impact not only in rowing but in Canadian sport.”
Now a coach at the Calgary Rowing Club, Gruchalla-Wesierski recently took a new job at the University of Calgary.
“I’m loving ‘civilian life’ so far. To be honest, I think I was truly ready for the next chapter of my life. It is not lost on me how fortunate I am that I’ve had a successful rowing career, to be physically and mentally healthy, and to be able to call the end of my athletic career on my own terms,” she said in an email interview.
“Of course, I will miss seeing my teammates every day and being extremely fit but it’s a chapter of life, a big and important one that I cherish, but it isn’t my entire identity. I look forward to giving back to my community in different ways and still being involved in my rowing community.”
Gruchalla-Wesierski was named to the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame’s 2026 class in December. She remains a proud Canadian ambassador and one who is grateful to have Olympic medals to show for her patriotic efforts.
“It means everything. It was my dream my entire life and an experience that no one can take away from me. I’m hoping that I can do some good with my experience and hopefully forge a path for other athletes that have the same dream that I did,” she said.
“Being part of the Milano Cortina 2026 Mission Team with the Canadian Olympic Committee is such an amazing opportunity. I’ll be stationed in Cortina to support the athletes in whatever capacity they might need. I’m hoping that I can be a resource for anyone that might need some words of encouragement or a sounding board,” added Gruchalla-Wesierski.
“That being said, if I’m quietly in the background – but loudly cheering during events – and the athletes feel that they are able to focus on their job and enjoy their Olympic Games experience, then I know I’ve done my job.”
The 2026 Olympics take place from Friday, Feb. 6th until Sunday, Feb. 22nd in Italy.
