Borden, Sask.— After a thrilling season that peaked with her NCAA record—and Olympic debut—21-year-old Savannah Sutherland is taking a well-earned break in her hometown. The University of Michigan standout, fresh off smashing the women’s 400m hurdles NCAA record with an astounding 52.46 seconds, is now focusing on family—for the first time as an aunt.
“I’m an aunt as of February,” she shared. “My nephew is five months old now—family means everything.”
Sutherland, who became the youngest-ever Canadian to reach an Olympic track final last year in Paris, credits her small hometown for her rise to stardom.
“Growing up in a tight-knit community of 300 people pushed me,” she said. After following her older brother Cole into sports, she discovered hurdles—and quickly excelled, winning early races on her coach’s guidance.
As she pauses for family time, Sutherland gears up for Canadian nationals and eyes a shot at a top placing at the Tokyo world championships in September. “First goal: make the final again,” she said, “and just keep getting better.”