56 Olympic, Paralympic hopefuls to receive $10,000 each to help with training costs
All 2023 Petro-Canada FACE grant recipients don't qualify for government funding
Fifty six Canadian athletes hoping to qualify for the 2024 Paris and 2026 Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo Olympic and Paralympic Games and beyond have received $10,000 each to help in training costs, as announced on Friday by the Canadian Olympic Committee, the Canadian Paralympic Committee and sponsor Petro-Canada.
The selected athletes don't qualify for government funding and receive limited or no financial support from other programs. In total, the grand represents an investment of 5,6 million dollars.
The 2023 recipients of the Petro-Canada FACE Grant include judoka Kelly Deguchi of Lethbridge, Alta., who earned a silver medal in the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, and triathlete Jérémy Briand of Sainte-Julie, Que., who won the 2023 Americas Triathlon Cup stop in Edmonton in August.
Wheelchair tennis athlete Natalia Lanucha of Pincourt, Que., currently 55th in the world, and Reed Platenius of Tofino, B.C., who won the North American Junior surf title in March, are also on the list.
The full list, including athletes from eight provinces, can be seen here.
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Over 3,500 Canadian athletes and coaches have received financial support in excess of $13.5 since the program was launched in 1988.
Thirteen of the recipients are Paralympic hopefuls in sports such as wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, powerlifting, Para badminton, Para alpine skiing and boccia.
"The FACE program has become such an integral part of the Canadian sport system over the years, providing so many athletes and coaches with more tools and opportunities to reach their goals," said Karen O'Neill, CEO of the Canadian Paralympic Committee.
The complete list of spots ranges from beach volleyball, figure skating and taekwondo to waterpolo, diving, fencing and speed skating.
"To us, living by the leaf means supporting those who wear it," said Patrick Ritchie, Petro-Canada's vice president of sales and marketing. "Through FACE, we provide meaningful direct funding at a critical point on their journey to represent Canada on the world stage."
