Q&A: Ryder Rattee reflects on record-setting season and national Athlete of the Year honours

Photo credit: Richard Coffey

Few student-athletes enjoyed a season quite like Ryder Rattee.

The University of Alberta sprinter emerged as one of the country's premier track and field athletes in 2025-26, capturing three gold medals at the U SPORTS Track and Field Championships in Winnipeg and earning Championship Athlete of the Meet honours after rewriting the Golden Bears record book. 

Rattee won national gold medals in the men’s 300 metres, 600 metres and 4x400-metre relay. He set Golden Bears program records in all three events, including a championship-record time of 32.75 seconds in the 300 metres. Rattee earned Canada West Male Track Athlete of the Year honours and went undefeated in individual races throughout 2026, culminating his dominant season in his being named the men’s recipient of the 2026 Lois and Doug Mitchell U SPORTS Athlete of the Year Award.

The honour is the latest chapter in a journey defined by perseverance. As a child, Rattee spent more than two years undergoing cancer treatments while remaining determined to return to the sports he loved. A decade later, he has developed into one of Canada's fastest university athletes, representing Alberta on the national stage and earning opportunities with Canada's senior track and field program.

As he looks ahead to international competition and his long-term goal of competing at the Olympic Games, Rattee spoke with U SPORTS about his path to the sport, his record-setting season and the experiences that have shaped him both on and off the track.

U SPORTS: You compete in the 300 and 600 metres indoors. What drew you to those events?

Rattee: The 600 kind of found me. It's a really hard race, so it's not necessarily one you choose. It started as a fitness thing, and then it went well, so I kept pursuing it. The 300 is a little different. Outdoors, I run the 200 and 400, so it's kind of the sweet spot between those events. The training is enjoyable because it's more sprint-focused.

U SPORTS: Why did you choose the University of Alberta?

Rattee: A big part of it was being able to stay at home. I'm from just outside Edmonton, so I still get to be around my family and focus on school and sport. I also knew a lot of people on the team already. The comfort level was there from the beginning, and those relationships have only grown.

U SPORTS: How would you describe the culture within the Golden Bears program?

Rattee: Supportive is probably the best word. Even though it's an individual sport, one of the things we talk about all the time is how you can help elevate your teammates' performances. Of course, when you're competing, it's all business, but away from the track, everybody gets along and supports each other. The coaches and captains do a great job creating that environment.

U SPORTS: What made this season special for you?

Rattee: It was kind of a strange year because I was dealing with some back issues early in the season. It became a learning experience. I wasn't able to do everything I wanted in training, so I had to trust the work I was able to do and kind of race myself into shape. It taught me how to stay competitive and enjoy what I was doing even when things weren't going perfectly.

U SPORTS: You've been through significant challenges in your life. What helped shape your resilience?

Rattee: I'm extremely competitive. I've gotten better over the years, but even as a kid, I hated losing. I also come from a very athletic family. My dad played professional soccer, my brother was a wrestler, my sister played volleyball, and my mom did track. Growing up in that environment definitely helped build that competitive mindset.

U SPORTS: What was your reaction to being named a finalist for the Lois and Doug Mitchell Award?

Rattee: Honestly, I was surprised. It means a lot when you think about the number of student-athletes across Canada. We have 85 athletes just on our track team, so to be selected from among all the athletes competing across U SPORTS is a huge honour.

U SPORTS: Who would you like to thank for helping you get to this point?

Rattee: Definitely my parents first. My coaches were incredibly patient with me this year, especially with the back issues I was dealing with. My teammates have been amazing as well. And I have to mention my family doctor. She always wants a shoutout whenever possible.

U SPORTS: Looking back on everything you've overcome as a child, what does your journey mean to you today?

Rattee: Growing up, I never wanted to be known as the kid with cancer. I just wanted to be known for who I was. Even during treatment, sports were always the focus. I wanted to keep playing and keep being around my teammates. Looking back, I think it helped build resilience and perspective. It wasn't easy, but honestly, it was probably harder on my parents than it was on me. Making them proud means a lot.

U SPORTS: What advice would you give young people facing challenges of their own?

Rattee: You can't give 100 per cent every day. Nobody can. But if you only have 10 per cent to give and you give nine per cent, that's still 90 per cent of what you had available. You have to keep doing the hard things. The biggest thing is finding your people, finding the people who want to see you succeed and building a support system around yourself.

U SPORTS: What goals are next for you?

Rattee: The big goal is Los Angeles in 2028. Beyond that, I want to make as many Team Canada teams as possible and create as many memories in U SPORTS as I can. Everybody tells you university flies by, and they're right. You have to enjoy it while you're here and make the most of it.