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Thirty-seven Olympic and Paralympic athletes to participate
in RBC Olympians Program
TORONTO, October 17, 2008 — RBC today announced
37 exceptional Canadian athletes who will join the RBC Olympians
team for the upcoming year.
The RBC Olympians Program is a national initiative providing
elite athletes an opportunity to gain career-oriented experience
alongside a flexible work schedule, which gives them the time
necessary to train and compete. The career skills and experiences
gained from working at RBC will benefit these athletes in
different stages of their careers.
"I am delighted to be an RBC Olympian and have the chance
to hone my skills both in my sport and in the workplace. This
program offers the financial support and flexibility a world-class
athlete needs to achieve their goals," said freestyle
skier Sylvia Kerfoot. "Another wonderful advantage of
the RBC Olympians program is that it allows me to share my
Olympic experience and passion for sport with people across
the country."
This year's RBC Olympians are a collection of hopefuls and
medalists, such as Crispin Lipscomb (snowboard), Shelly Ann
Brown (bobsleigh), Beijing 2008 Olympic Games gold medallist
Adam Kreek (rowing) and Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games bronze
medallist Benoît Huot (Paralympic swimming).
"Initiatives like the RBC Olympians Program help ease
the complex financial and training demands that amateur athletes
face in today's highly competitive world," said Kerfoot.
As Canada's longest standing corporate supporter of the Canadian
Olympic Team, RBC has been helping create Olympic champions
since 1947. Through the RBC Olympians Program, the athletes
act as community ambassadors across the country, sharing their
Olympic and Paralympic Games experiences, as well as current
aspirations with schools and community groups, RBC clients
and employees. RBC Olympians also help raise awareness and
support for amateur sport, inspiring Canadians to be physically
fit and participate in sports at all levels.
RBC Olympians for the next year are:
British Columbia
- Rachel Jonat, rowing
- Andrea Holmes, Paralympic athletics
- Anthony Wright, field hockey
- Anne-Marie Lefrançois, alpine skiing
- Sylvia Kerfoot, freestyle skiing
- Adam Kreek, rowing
- Kristi Richards, freestyle skiing
- Josh Dueck, Paralympic alpine skiing
- Ravi Kahlon, field hockey
- Chris Wong, freestyle skiing
- Crispin Lipscomb, snowboard
Alberta
- Shelley Ann Brown, bobsleigh
- Brad Spence, alpine skiing
- Meaghan Mikkelson, ice hockey
- Steven Elm, speed skating
- Colleen Sostorics, ice hockey
- Blythe Hartley, diving
Prairies
- Fiona Smith, ice hockey
- Kelsie Hendry, athletics
Ontario
- Jennifer Botterill, ice hockey
- Jayna Hefford, ice hockey
- Kimberly Orr, judo
- Fatih Stanley, athletics
- Mike Woods, athletics
- Jeff Bean, freestyle skiing
- Gillian Apps, ice hockey
Quebec
- Martine Albert, biathlon
- Lyne Tremblay, Paralympic archery
- Tania Vincent, speed skating
- Benoît Huot, Paralympic swimming
- Sandra Lizé, water polo
- Dominique Maltais, snowboard
Atlantic Region
- Alex Duckworth, snowboard
- David Kikuchi, gymnastics
- Hugh Smith, gymnastics
- Lisa Ross, sailing
- Richard Dalton, canoeing
More information on the RBC Olympians can be found at www.rbc.com/sponsorship/rbcolympians.html.
RBC AND AMATEUR SPORT
RBC sponsors amateur sport, from grassroots events in local
communities to national sport associations that support the
development of amateur athletes who compete at home and abroad.
As the longest-standing supporter of Canada's Olympic Team,
since 1947, RBC continues this sponsorship to include the
Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. RBC is
also a Premier Sponsor of Hockey Canada, the Canadian Snowboard
Team, the Canadian Freestyle Ski Team, Athletics Canada and
the Canadian Paralympic Committee.
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For more information, please contact:
Jackie Braden,
RBC, Media Relations, (416) 974-2124
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