Apollo Hess
Swimming
Apollo Hess is a Canadian Olympian specializing in breaststroke swimming. A proud member of the Kainai Nation (Blood Tribe) in Alberta, Apollo made history at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games as the first Indigenous athlete to represent Canada in Olympic swimming.
Growing up in Lethbridge, Alberta, Apollo participated in a wide variety of sports before dedicating himself to swimming. He enjoyed tremendous success at the University of Lethbridge, earning five medals at the 2022 U SPORTS Championships, including gold in the 50m and 200m breaststroke. His performances set Canadian and U SPORTS short-course records in the 50m breaststroke and earned him U SPORTS Rookie of the Year honours. He later joined the High Performance Centre – Ontario, where he qualified for Team Canada at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
In recognition of both his athletic achievements and his leadership within Indigenous sport, Apollo was named the recipient of the prestigious Tom Longboat Award, one of Canada's highest honours recognizing outstanding Indigenous athletes. The award celebrates not only excellence in competition but also a commitment to inspiring future generations through sport.
Apollo is passionate about creating opportunities for Indigenous youth and helping the next generation see what is possible through sport. As a Right To Play Ambassador, he is proud to use his platform to inspire children and youth to build confidence, resilience, and leadership through the power of play.