At the BMO Marathon recently, we noticed something interesting.
We spoke to lots of women throughout the day, and a comment that kept coming up was:
“My boyfriend would love this.”
“My partner is always looking for people to golf or run with.”
“I know a guy who could really use this.”
And honestly, it made us realise how often this comes up in different ways, but for the same underlying reason.
There’s often more visible conversation around women making new friends as adults, but from what we’re seeing, a huge number of men are also looking for more connection, they just don’t always say it as openly.
And it makes sense.
Making friends as an adult can feel awkward for anyone. Life changes, people move cities, friendship groups shift, work gets busier, relationships evolve and suddenly meeting new people doesn’t happen as naturally as it once did.
A recent statistic found that 67% of Canadian men aged 19–29 are at risk of social isolation.
And while that number is specific to one group, the feeling behind it isn’t.
Because when you actually talk to people, it’s rarely complicated. Most people are simply looking for someone to do things with:
A gym partner.
A golf buddy.
A hiking friend.
Someone to share time and activities with.
One of the most beautiful things about sport is that it naturally brings together people of different ages and backgrounds. You don’t always meet people your exact age and that’s actually part of the magic.
For example, my partner plays tennis with a 60 year old man who is an incredible player. He knows exactly where to hit the ball to make him run, and there’s something really special about that kind of connection that goes beyond age.
A friend of mine in the UK told me her dad goes on a men’s mental health walk every other week with a friend he met through shared interests, where they just go out and talk about life. That always stuck with me, that something as simple as walking can turn into real companionship and support.
Especially in a world that already feels so online and disconnected, real life connection feels more important than ever.
From what we’ve seen, sport and movement create one of the most natural ways for people to connect. It removes some of the pressure, gives people something shared to focus on, and makes meeting others feel more natural and less forced.
And that’s a big part of why we’re building SPORTAMii.
Not just for one type of person, and not just for one stage of life but for anyone wanting more connection through the things they enjoy.
In conclusion, everyone is looking for friends in some form, no matter your gender, age, wealth bracket, or background. It’s a deeply human experience, and one that can be felt by all.