How Kid Entrepreneurs Helped Fuel Kaiya Ruiter’s Olympic Dream
When most people think about what it takes to reach the Olympics, they picture years of early mornings, long training sessions, and the relentless pursuit of perfection. And while that’s true, for Canadian figure skater Kaiya Ruiter, there’s another team behind the scenes cheering her on a group of young entrepreneurs from Mini Titans who are learning that success in business and success in sport are built on the same foundation: Honesty, Discipline, and Grit.
Kaiya’s journey to the 2026 Winter Olympics hasn’t been easy. From balancing school with intense training schedules to facing the physical and mental demands of elite competition, her story is one of perseverance. But just like every great athlete, she’s learned that the road to the top isn’t walked alone.
That’s where the Mini Titans came in.
Through their youth entrepreneurship markets, these young changemakers set up their own small businesses selling handmade products, sharing ideas, and learning how the free market works firsthand. When they learned about Kaiya’s dream to represent Canada, they decided to put their entrepreneurial energy to work for a bigger purpose: helping fuel her journey to the Olympics.
The kids raised funds through their ventures to help cover Kaiya’s training costs showing that business isn’t just about profit, but about purpose. Their effort reflected the same qualities that make great athletes unstoppable:
- Honesty- Being truthful with themselves and their customers, learning from mistakes, and doing things the right way, even when it’s hard.
- Discipline- Showing up early, preparing their products, managing their time, and sticking to commitments just like Kaiya’s daily practice routines.
- Grit- Pushing through challenges, bad weather markets, or the fear of failure the same mental toughness Kaiya shows when she steps on the ice.
Together, the young entrepreneurs and the elite athlete proved that the skills that build great business leaders are the same ones that build champions.
Kaiya’s success is a reminder that when kids learn to take ownership, work hard, and give back, they can impact their communities in incredible ways even helping someone reach the Olympic stage.
At Mini Titans, we believe that every child has the potential to think big, act boldly, and make a difference. Supporting Kaiya wasn’t just about helping one athlete; it was about teaching the next generation that when you combine heart with hard work, anything is possible.
