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Canada TJ Sanders is a former Olympian and professional volleyball player, known for his consistent setting ability and leadership on the court, offering insights on performance and resilience.
Partnered to support athletes in building resilience, offering tools, workshops, and ongoing support to strengthen team culture and empower athletes.
Recognized as a supporting client by Drive Sportswear, a brand in the athletic apparel industry.
Affiliation with Mizuno Canada, an athletic equipment and sportswear company, particularly for volleyball gear.
Recipient of CAN Fund support, which helps Canadian athletes offset training and competition costs. Featured in a 'Rapid Fire Interview'.
Technical director for a non-profit sport intervention organization in northern Quebec, focused on conducting volleyball camps, events, and tournaments.
TJ Sanders was born on December 14, 1991, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and grew up in London, Ontario. His Olympic aspirations began in 2007, witnessing an FIVB World League event as a floor wiper in his hometown. He began playing volleyball at age 12, joining the Forest City club. Sanders joined Canada’s senior national squad after contributing to an 11th-place finish at the World U-21 Championship in 2011 and a fifth-place finish at the 2013 Universiade. He quickly established himself as a key player, often likened to a ‘quarterback’ for his precise setting.
Sanders made his professional debut in 2013 with Abiant Lycurgus in the Netherlands, followed by a season with PV Lugano in Switzerland, where he became a Swiss Champion in 2015. He also played for MKS Będzin in Poland, Arkas Spor Izmir in Turkey, and Trefl Gdańsk in Poland, winning the Polish Cup in 2018 and finishing second in the Turkish Championship in 2017. Internationally, Sanders played a crucial role in Canada’s best-ever seventh-place finish at the FIVB World Championships in 2014. He earned a bronze medal at the Pan American Games in Toronto in 2015 and a gold medal at the NORCECA Continental Championship the same year. He participated in the Rio 2016 Olympics, where Canada finished fifth, and contributed to a bronze medal at the FIVB World League in 2017, where he was statistically ranked as the top setter.
Despite a severe L5 vertebra fracture as a child, Sanders’ career progression continued with his participation in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, following an 18-month rehabilitation from a back injury sustained in 2018. This comeback included a crucial five-set win over Cuba to secure Canada’s Olympic berth. He also played a vital role in Canada’s eighth-place finish at the FIVB Nations League in 2021. After retiring from professional play in 2022, Sanders is now largely involved with the Nunavik Volleyball Program as a technical director, a non-profit organization focused on sport intervention in northern Quebec, bringing his expertise to support youth development.
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