Vincent Boily and Leylah Fernandez share a connection that brings together two different worlds of Canadian sport. Fernandez is the tennis player whose run to the 2021 US Open final introduced her to a worldwide audience. Boily is a Canadian para ice hockey player with world championship gold and a Paralympic silver medal. Their relationship became part of their public story in 2026, when Fernandez spoke about the man she had met the previous summer. Behind the couple’s sporting achievements are distinct experiences of ambition, setbacks, and finding a way forward.
Who Is Vincent Boily?
Vincent Boily is a forward on Canada’s national para ice hockey team. Born on June 2, 2000, he comes from Alma, Quebec, and joined the national team for the 2022–23 season.
His international record includes silver medals at the 2023 and 2025 world championships, gold in 2024, and silver at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games. The Canadian Paralympic Committee describes his speed as an asset at both ends of the ice, allowing him to contribute to attacking play and defensive pressure.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Vincent Boily | Leylah Fernandez |
|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | June 2, 2000 | September 6, 2002 |
| Quebec roots | Alma | Montreal |
| Sport | Para ice hockey | Tennis |
| Sporting role | Forward for Canada | Left-handed WTA player |
| Major achievement | 2024 world championship gold | 2021 US Open singles finalist |
Their official athlete profiles document these biographical details and career milestones.
How Vincent Boily and Leylah Fernandez Met
Fernandez discussed their relationship in an interview published in April 2026. She said they had met in August 2025 after Boily sent her a message. They went for breakfast together in Montreal, then tried to spend time together between trips.
The timing coincided with a video in which Fernandez had invited potential dates to come forward during the National Bank Open. However, she explained that Boily said he had not seen the video before contacting her.
Fernandez described him as funny and kind and said their relationship was serious at the time of the interview. She also explained that learning about his experiences had helped her approach tennis defeats with more perspective.
The Accident That Changed Boily’s Hockey Career
Before para ice hockey, Boily was pursuing a future in conventional hockey. He played AAA midget hockey for the St-Eustache Vikings and had ambitions of progressing to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
A snowmobile accident in December 2017 left him partially paralyzed. In June 2018, he attended the Canadian Paralympic Committee’s Paralympian Search in Montreal, an event that introduced him to potential opportunities in adapted sport. That appearance came only months after an injury that had disrupted his plans as a teenage hockey player.
Finding His Way Back to Competition
His return to elite sport took time. Boily explored para rowing and then para cycling, where he was identified as a NextGen athlete. The pandemic interrupted his cycling training, and he eventually turned to para ice hockey.
Speaking in 2025, he acknowledged that he had not initially been mentally ready for the commitment required by high-performance sport. His account makes the transition more understandable: finding another sport was only one part of rebuilding his athletic life.
Once he joined Canada’s hockey program, he valued the team’s close relationships. He described a culture based on trust and friendship and said he had begun to see himself as part of its leadership group.
A Challenge Beyond the Rink: Mount Kilimanjaro
In July 2024, shortly after winning world championship gold, Boily climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania using arm crutches.
He reached the summit on July 28 after a seven-day journey covering approximately 90 kilometres. At 5,895 metres, Kilimanjaro is Africa’s highest mountain. The climb also raised funds for the Fondation moelle épinière et motricité Québec, which supports work connected to spinal cord injuries and motor function.
Boily described the summit day as exceptionally demanding because of the altitude and fatigue. The expedition gave him a goal outside organized competition, with a different measure of success: reaching the top after days of sustained effort.
Leylah Fernandez’s Career Beyond the US Open Final
Fernandez’s breakthrough came in 2021, when she won her first WTA singles title in Monterrey and reached the US Open final. Her New York run included victories over Naomi Osaka, Angelique Kerber, Elina Svitolina, and Aryna Sabalenka before she lost to Emma Raducanu.
She continued building her career after that tournament. Fernandez defended her Monterrey title in 2022, won Hong Kong in 2023, and collected titles in Washington and Osaka in 2025. Washington was her first WTA 500 singles championship.
Her achievements also extend to doubles and national-team competition. She reached the 2023 Roland Garros women’s doubles final with Taylor Townsend and helped Canada win the Billie Jean King Cup that year. Together, those results show the breadth of a career often introduced through one memorable fortnight in New York.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Vincent Boily Leylah Fernandez’s boyfriend?
Yes. Fernandez publicly discussed Boily as her boyfriend in an interview published in April 2026, including how they met and spent time together between sporting commitments.
Does Vincent Boily play professional tennis?
No. Boily competes in para ice hockey for Canada. Fernandez is the tennis player; their careers belong to different sports.
Is Vincent Boily an Olympic or Paralympic medallist?
Boily is a Paralympic silver medallist. He helped Canada finish second in para ice hockey at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games.
Did Vincent Boily climb Kilimanjaro?
Yes. He reached the summit in July 2024 using arm crutches, completing a seven-day climb while raising money for a spinal cord injury foundation.
Conclusion
Vincent Boily and Leylah Fernandez’s relationship connects two accomplished Canadian athletes whose routes to international competition have been very different. Understanding both careers gives their story its substance: a tennis player building beyond a teenage breakthrough and a hockey player who found a new route to representing his country.
Also read… Peter Townsend and Marie-Luce Jamagne: Their Life Together
