The Canadian Olympic Foundation on Thursday revealed details of the major financial support five Quebec athletes will receive: an annual grant of $20,000 for five years. It is therefore a total contribution of half a million dollars proposed by a donor who wishes to remain anonymous.
The lucky ones are snowboarding specialist Elliot Grondin, canoeist Sophia Jensen, freestyle skier Marion Thénault, boxer Tamara Thibault and diver Nathan Zsombor-Murray.
Eric Miles, head of sport at the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC), explains that although the donor did not have any names in mind, he expressed a clear goal to the selection committee: $20,000. It was supposed to be a game-changer for the athlete in his Olympic preparations.
Furthermore, there is no commitment to performance or outcome, just as an injury results in a penalty. Athletes are required to continue to honor their agreement with their national team and remain committed to their sport, and can use the scholarship as they see fit.
List of scholarship award recipients
Elliot Grondin (snowboarder)
- Silver medals (men) and bronze (mixed team), 2022 Olympics
- Bronze Medal (Men) Worlds 2021
- Three medals at the World Junior Championships
Sophia Jensen (kayak)
- Bronze Medal (C-4 500m) 2023 World
- Gold (C-4 500m) and Silver (C-1500m), 2022 World Championships
- Eight-time U23 or World Junior champion
Marion Thénault (free skating)
- Bronze medal (mixed team) and seventh place (women) 2022 Olympics
- Three World Cup victories
Tamara Thibault (boxing)
- Gold medals at the 2022 Worlds and bronze medals at the 2019 Worlds
- Gold medals, Commonwealth Games 2022, Bronze medals, Commonwealth Games 2018
- Gold medals, 2023 Pan American Games, and silver medals, 2019 Pan American Games
- Fifth place, 2020 Olympics
Nathan Zsombor-Murray (diving)
- Bronze Medal (10m Synchro) 2022 World
- Silver medal (10m synchronized), 2022 Commonwealth Games
- Silver medals (10m and 10m synchro), 2019 Pan American Games Silver medals (10m synchro), 2023 Pan American Games
- 5th place (10m synchronized) and 13th place (10m) at the 2020 Olympics
Often times, there will be agreements with sponsors that come with specific commitments or investments just for travel, or for training, those things, says Eric Miles. Here, the field is open for the athlete to choose what he wants, and what will help him in general in his life. It's really something special.
This shows that we have confidence in our Canadian athletes, because we know that if we are at this level, it is because we do it with passion and with everything we have, emphasizes Marion Thénault. I dedicate my life to my sport. I think the people at COC and the donor know that.
We are trusted, and that reflects the values of sports in Canada. We do it out of passion, to represent our country, because we love it and because we love the values it represents.
In a context where Canada's Olympic and Paralympic Committees are demanding increased funding from the federal government, every donation counts. National team athletes do have to cover certain costs, but not all financial concerns magically disappear.
Elliot Grondin
Photo: FIS on Ice/Miha Matavs
Elliott Grondin remembers his seasons before becoming part of Team Canada without too much nostalgia There were years where I had to pay for everything, 100%, and those were seasons where I deviated from $100,000
. It has better support than in the past, but seeking care is still a problem.
For snowboarders from St. Mary's, V.B., the new scholarship will be an opportunity to invest in state-of-the-art equipment. We talked about equipment for 30 minutes
“Grondin says with a smile.
In other cases, concerns are nothing more than basic matters.
My first thought is to get out of my house to be closer [du centre d’entraînement], Nathan Zsombor Murray's family, met in a swimming pool in Montreal's Olympic Park. It will allow me to focus better on my studies [collégiales en sciences de la nature] And on diving […]. This would give me more time to recover better at home or near here.
Canadian canoeist Sophia Jensen
Photo: Instagram/Sofia Jensen
As an athlete, I need my family to be in my corner, adds Sophia Jensen, a co-traveler from Chelsea to California and Nova Scotia. I need to get home to see them. This has been my support network since the beginning. It is such a relief to be able to see my family when I need to.
At the panel, competition committee members and a donor representative pre-selected specific athletes before interviewing them to understand and hear from them what the scholarship means to them. Their vision for their career and continuity in sports
“, explains COC Sports President. Data from Own the Podium, the organization responsible for investment strategies for Canada's national sports organizations, previously allowed COC stakeholders to target potential scholarship recipients.
Tamara Thibault won her competition at the Pan American Games last summer.
Photo: AP/Dolores Ochoa
It wasn't just about sports. Tamara Thibault was particularly impressed that we sought to find out her motivations outside of sports, as she intends to devote her scholarship to her graduate studies in urban planning.
People know Tamara the boxer. Someone who takes the time to ask me who I am as a person, what my projects are, what my plans are, what I'm trying to do in life, my influence in society… that means a lot to me. affected. Because people don't take the time, especially when you're an athlete, to know what that person does.
Says.
It's kind of a relief. It tells me that it's important to be outside of the sport, and that people want to support me on this journey.
As for the identity of the donor, athletes do not worry much. Healthy curiosity, nothing more, even if Sophia Jensen risks offering a theory.
[Le fait qu’on puisse utiliser l’argent comme on veut]This makes me think the donor was involved in amateur sports, she says. He knows it's difficult […] And he knows that we will not spend money in vain. You have to experience it to understand it.
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