Before capturing Olympic gold for Canada, Camryn Rogers was sleeping in cars and on couches.
The Richmond, B.C. hammer thrower has revealed she experienced homelessness as a young teenager, living without stable housing for an entire year with her single mother.
Her story demonstrates how the right support at the right time can transform lives.
Now 26 and a two-time world champion, Rogers is using her platform to shine light on homelessness affecting families across Canada.
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From Homelessness to Olympic Podium
At ages 12 and 13, Rogers didn’t have a place to call home. She and her mom couch-surfed and lived in their car before the More Than A Roof Foundation stepped in to provide housing.
That intervention changed everything.
More Than a Roof gave us a second chance; it gave us a fighting chance. And when you realize you’ve been given that chance, you can’t let it go.
Rogers discovered track and field just one month after finding stable housing. In January 2012, at 13 years old, she was introduced to hammer throw at school and immediately fell in love with the sport.
Watching athletes compete at the London 2012 Olympics that summer sparked a dream that would eventually become reality.
Rapid Rise Through Track and Field
Rogers’ athletic progression was nothing short of extraordinary. Just four years after living in a car, she competed at her first U20 World Athletics Championships in 2016.
Two years later, she won gold at that same competition.
She left home for university in California, where academic pursuits complemented athletic ones. Rogers earned a Master’s degree in Cultural Studies in Sport and Education while continuing to dominate her event.
Her career exploded on the international stage with Olympic gold at Paris 2024 and consecutive world championship titles.
Championship Credentials
Rogers’ medal collection tells the story of sustained excellence:
- Olympic gold medal in women’s hammer throw at Paris 2024
- Two-time world champion, defending her title in Tokyo in September 2025
- U20 world champion in 2018
- Two Olympic Games appearances under her belt at just 26 years old
She has established herself as one of Canada’s most impressive track and field athletes, dominating an event that requires both technical precision and explosive power.
Giving Back and Raising Awareness
With Olympic champion status comes a platform Rogers refuses to waste. She’s become a vocal advocate for addressing homelessness, unafraid to attach her face and story to an issue many prefer to ignore.
Scott Campbell, executive director of More Than A Roof Foundation, highlighted Rogers’ unique position as both beneficiary and advocate.
Camryn is a shining example of what our community can do when we have the right supports. We are so proud to be a part of Camryn’s incredible story. She and her mom are truly exceptional, but the challenges they faced, unfortunately, are way too common in our province and country.
Campbell’s words underscore a critical reality: Rogers’ experience wasn’t unique, just uniquely visible now.
The Broader Impact
Rogers’ story challenges assumptions about homelessness. Families experiencing housing instability aren’t always visible on street corners.
They’re children attending school, parents working jobs, families doing everything they can to maintain normalcy while lacking basic shelter.
By sharing her experience, Rogers humanizes statistics and puts a relatable face on family homelessness. She demonstrates that with appropriate intervention and support, potential can be unlocked even in desperate circumstances.
Her partnership with More Than A Roof Foundation brings attention to organizations doing critical work behind the scenes, providing not just roofs but genuine opportunities for families to rebuild.
Fighting Through Adversity
Every Olympic athlete faces obstacles. Injuries, funding challenges, training setbacks, and fierce competition are standard barriers on the path to podiums.
Rogers faced those and the fundamental uncertainty of not knowing where she’d sleep at night.
That she not only survived but thrived speaks to remarkable resilience. That she’s now using her success to help others demonstrates character that extends far beyond athletic achievement.
Her journey from couch-surfing teenager to Olympic champion happened in just over a decade. From discovering hammer throw in 2012 to standing atop the Paris podium in 2024, Rogers compressed what could have been a lifetime of progress into 12 transformative years.
What Comes Next
Rogers shows no signs of slowing down athletically. After defending her world championship title in September 2025, she remains at the peak of her sport with years of competition still ahead.
But her impact may ultimately extend beyond medals. By openly discussing homelessness and partnering with organizations addressing housing insecurity, she’s building a legacy that transcends sport.
Her story proves that one intervention at the right moment can change trajectories. More Than A Roof Foundation didn’t just house Rogers and her mother—they created conditions for an Olympic champion to emerge.
How many other potential champions are currently sleeping in cars or on couches, waiting for their fighting chance?
Rogers reminds us that talent and determination exist everywhere, regardless of housing status. What varies is opportunity and support.
By continuing to speak out, she ensures that her younger self—and thousands of children facing similar circumstances today—aren’t forgotten in conversations about athletic development, community support, and national priorities.
Her Olympic gold medal represents personal achievement. Her advocacy represents something potentially even more valuable: hope for families still waiting for their second chance.
