54 Canadian athletes join RBC Olympians program ahead of Paris 2024

RBC welcomes diverse mix of Olympic champions, talent from emerging sports and graduates of RBC Training Ground

TORONTO, Oct. 18, 2023 /CNW/ - Today, RBC announced the 54 Canadian athletes that will receive funding and support through the RBC Olympians program. Celebrating over 20 years since inception, the RBC Olympians program provides athletes with financial support, career experience, skill development opportunities and personal brand exposure as they train for upcoming Olympic Games.

The roster includes an impressive group of Paris 2024 hopefuls from communities across Canada, including Canada's most decorated Olympian, Penny Oleksiak, world-ranked Beach Volleyball duo, Brandie Wilkerson and Melissa-Humana Paredes and the reigning Decathlon World Champion, Pierce LePage. Also included are contenders in newer Olympic sports like Sean McColl (Sport Climbing) and Philip Kim (Breaking) alongside breakout stars discovered through RBC Training Ground – Canada's top Olympic athlete recruitment program – including reigning Olympic champions Kelsey Mitchell (Track Cycling) and Avalon Wasteneys (Rowing).

"The RBC Olympians program is a reinforcement of RBC's long-standing commitment to Olympic athletes at every stage of their careers – from up-and-coming talent to Olympic champions to those transitioning to life after sport," said Shannon Cole, vice president, brand marketing, RBC. "We're proud to welcome this incredible group of athletes into our community and we look forward to celebrating their successes both in competition and in life."

As part of the program, RBC Olympians act as brand ambassadors, spreading Olympic values of teamwork, excellence, commitment and leadership to clients, employees and Canadians.

"I'm very proud to continue partnering with a brand that has made such a significant impact on thousands of Canadian Olympians," said Penny Oleksiak, RBC Olympian. "Since joining the team following my first Olympics, I have been inspired by RBC's involvement in sport at the national and community level and look forward to welcoming my new RBC teammates to the program."

The latest roster also includes eight athletes who were previously discovered and supported through RBC Training Ground – the nationwide talent identification program designed to find and fund athletes with Olympic potential. Since the program's inception in 2016, 13 RBC Training Ground alumni have gone on to compete at the Olympics, with seven winning medals. This week, RBC Training Ground also announced the Top 100 athletes who were chosen to compete at this year's National Final –which offers yet another opportunity to prime the Olympic pipeline for years to come.

"RBC has been with me at each step of my Olympic dream ever since I won the inaugural RBC Training Ground event in 2016," said Pierce LePage, RBC Olympian. "My athletic career was accelerated by the belief RBC had in me and I am grateful to be part of such an empowering community of support."

"I'm so proud to be joining the RBC family," said Brandie Wilkerson, RBC Olympian. "To partner with a brand who has been involved in the Olympic movement for as long as RBC has is an exciting opportunity that strengthens my support system."

RBC is the longest-standing corporate supporter of Team Canada, since 1947.

Name	Sport	Hometown
Alexander Canning	Canoe Kayak	Dartmouth, N.S.
Alexis Cronk	Rowing	London, ON.
Ali ten Hove	Sailing	Kingston, ON.
Amanda Rummery	Para-Athletics	Sherwood Park, Alta.
Antoine Gélinas-Beaulieu	Speed Skating	Sherbrooke, Que.
Avalon Wasteneys Bismark Boateng	Rowing Athletics	Campbell River, B.C. Toronto, ON.
Brandie Wilkerson	Beach Volleyball	Toronto, ON.
Brandon McBride	Athletics	Windsor, ON.
Braven Park	Taekwondo	Winnipeg, Man.
Bret Himmelman	Canoe-Kayak	Hammonds Plains, N.S.
Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard	Judo	Montreal, Que.
Cynthia Appiah	Bobsleigh	Toronto, ON.
Darren Gardner	Snowboarding	Burlington, ON.
Dawn Richardson-Wilson	Bobsleigh/Athletics	Edmonton, Alta.
Eden Wilson	Bobsleigh	Calgary, Alta.
Ellie Black Florence Maheu	Gymnastics Canoe-Kayak	Halifax, N.S. Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Que.
Gabriel Ferron-Bouius	Para-Sprint Kayak	Ottawa, ON.
Jackie Boyle	Cycling	Toronto, ON.
James Dunn	Para-Ice Hockey	Wallacetown, ON.
Jasmit Phulka	Wrestling	Abbotsford, B.C.
Javier Acevedo	Swimming	Toronto, ON.
Jordan Stewart	Taekwondo	Toronto, ON.
Kate O'Brien	Para Cycling	Calgary, Alta.
Kelsey Mitchell	Cycling	Sherwood Park, Alta.
Krissy Scurfield	Rugby	Canmore, Alta.
Kristen Bujnowski	Bobsleigh	Mount Brydges, ON.
Larissa Franklin	Softball	Maple Ridge, B.C.
Lisa Weagle	Curling	Ottawa, ON.
Lois Betteridge	Canoe-Kayak	Ottawa, ON.
Lucia Stafford	Athletics	Toronto, ON.
Madeleine Kelly	Athletics	Pembroke, ON.
Marie-Philip Poulin	Hockey	Beauceville, Que.
Marion Thénault	Freestyle Skiing	Sherbrooke, Que.
Melissa Humana-Paredes	Beach Volleyball	Toronto, ON.
Michelle Harrison	Athletics	Saskatoon, Sask.
Nate Riech	Para-Athletics	Victoria, B.C.
Orion Griffith-Edwards	Bobsleigh	Newmarket, ON.
Penny Oleksiak	Swimming	Toronto, ON.
Philip Kim	Breaking	Vancouver, B.C.
Pierce LePage	Decathlon	Whitby, ON.
Sam Schachter	Beach Volleyball	Richmond Hill, ON.
Sarah Douglas	Sailing	Toronto, ON.
Sarah Mitton	Athletics	Brooklyn, N.S.
Sarah Nurse	Hockey	Hamilton, ON.
Sarah Orban	Cycling	Calgary, Alta.
Sean McColl	Sport Climbing	North Vancouver, B.C.
Skylar Park	Taekwondo	Winnipeg, Man.
Steven Dubois	Speed Skating	Terrebonne, Que.
Tae Ku Park	Taekwondo	Winnipeg, Man.
Tamm Thibeault	Boxing	Shawinigan, Que.
Tyler Laidlaw	Canoe Kayak	Middle Sackville, N.S.
William Émard	Gymnastics	Laval, Que.

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SOURCE RBC

Ema Asler, RBC Communications, [email protected], 437-236-3982