Christabel Nettey

Christabel Nettey is a Canadian long jump athlete, two-time Olympian, and a passionate advocate for racial equality and inclusion. Currently, she serves as a Board of Directors Member at Athletics Canada, where she champions equity and representation in sport. Her advocacy is deeply informed by her lived experience as a Black woman navigating the world of elite athletics, where systemic barriers and underrepresentation persist. Christabel channels these experiences into her work as a speaker, engaging audiences with topics such as peak performance, diversity and inclusion, youth empowerment, and the intersections of fashion and beauty with identity and race. Her story resonates with audiences of all backgrounds, particularly young people and women of colour.

Christabel’s journey in athletics began early, showing promise as a teenager and steadily rising through the ranks. She made her international debut in 2007, winning bronze in the medley relay at the World Youth Championships. Over the years, her dedication and resilience have seen her collect a string of medals: silver at the 2009 Pan American Junior Championships, gold at the 2012 NACAC U23 Championships, and a significant breakthrough in 2015 when she set the Canadian long jump record at 6.99 metres – both indoors and outdoors. Her consistent excellence earned her places at the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games, making her one of Canada’s most decorated long jumpers. Her presence on the Athletics Canada Council since 2013 reflects her commitment not only to sport but to leadership within it.

Among her most notable achievements, Christabel claimed gold at the 2015 Pan American Games and the 2018 Commonwealth Games, as well as silver at the 2022 NACAC Championships. She is a seven-time Canadian National Champion, and her track record of sustained success speaks to her discipline and mental fortitude. In 2022, she was appointed to the Board of Athletics Canada, recognising her influence beyond performance and into governance and policy. These accolades reinforce her role as both a role model and a catalyst for change.

Christabel’s speaking engagements delve into how personal discipline in sport translates to peak performance in life, and how embracing diversity and inclusion fuels creativity, innovation, and social progress. She speaks passionately about supporting young people, especially young girls in sport, advocating for equal access, representation, and confidence-building. Her focus on fashion and beauty explores the politics of appearance and identity in sport and society. Christabel is hired not only for her powerful story but for her authenticity, insight, and ability to spark meaningful conversations around racial equity, belonging, and breaking barriers.