2009 RBC Olympians Bios

Rachel's Bio

Rachel Jonat (nee Dunnet) successfully represented Canada at the 2003 World Rowing Championships, bringing home a bronze medal in the women’s 8+ event. Competitive sport taught her to persevere through challenges, to learn from both victory and defeat, and to enjoy the journey.

Athletic Goals

As a retired athlete I would like to contribute to the rowing community that gave me so much opportunity. At the moment I volunteer at local regattas and would like to some day coach junior athletes.

Favourite Olympic/Sporting Moment

Speed skater Clara Hughes winning a bronze medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Torino and becoming the first Canadian athlete to medal at a Summer and Winter Olympics. What an amazing moment for sport in Canada!

Best Advice You've Ever Received

"Jump and the net will appear." My mother said this to me when I was unsure of how I would survive financially when I returned to high performance sport in 2001. It stuck with me during some lean and difficult training years and reminded of one of my other favourite quotes: "risk nothing and you risk everything."

Being an RBC Athlete means...

Retirement for an athlete is a scary time. The years spent training and competing – while rewarding – are not always valued in the corporate world. RBC gives dozens of competing and retired athletes opportunities that assist them in their training and give them skills for life after sport. I’m proud and grateful to have been selected for the RBC Olympians program.