Victoria-based Triathlon Canada, in an attempt to rebuild its program in the post-Simon Whitfield era, has announced a fundraising program named Fuel the Drive, in which fans of the sport are encouraged to help out.
Triathlon Canada is attempting to ride the momentum it feels was created by the country’s success at the recent 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics and Paralympics.
“There is no argument the performances of the nation’s best Olympic and Paralympic athletes on the biggest sport stage in the world this winter captured the hearts and minds of all Canadians,” said Triathlon Canada CEO Kim Van Bruggen of Victoria, in a statement.
“There simply is no other event in the world that has the ability to connect all communities together.”
Triathlon supporters can donate a minimum $50 at triathloncanada.com/donate to help build Canada’s team to the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics. A tax receipt will be issued. The goal is to raise $400,000.
The 94 Forward organization, which oversees the $20-million legacy fund from the Victoria Commonwealth Games, will match dollar-for-dollar the first $200,000 raised.
Van Bruggen said the program is more than just financial but that Triathlon Canada wants supporters to be “emotionally invested in the athletes’ pursuit of excellence on the road to Tokyo, and beyond.”
A big part of Canada’s national sport funding system is tied to medal performance. Canada has not had a medal in triathlon in the Summer Olympics since Sydney 2000 men’s champion Whitfield’s silver medal at Beijing in 2008.
Triathlon Canada, however, sees a real chance for a medal in the mixed team relay, which will be a new Olympic event at Tokyo 2020. Also, Stefan Daniel won the men’s silver medal at the 2016 Rio Paralympics.
“This unique campaign will not only provide all Canadians with the opportunity to be directly connected to our team’s journey to 2020, but will also ensure our program remains competitive with the best in the world,” said Daniel.
“This support will enable us to focus solely on training and competition without having financial distractions.”
First up on the road to Tokyo 2020 are the 2018 Commonwealth Games, which open April 4 in Gold Coast, Australia.
Included on the Commonwealth Games team are Matt Sharpe of Victoria, emerging 17-year-old star Desirae Ridenour of Cowichan Bay, women’s 2017 world top-five Joanna Brown of Carp, Ont., 2016 Olympian Tyler Mislawchuk of Oak Bluff, Man., Dominika Jamnicky of Guelph, Ont., and Alexis Lepage of Gatineau, Que. Four of those six triathletes train in Victoria at the national performance centre.
Sharpe, a graduate of Claremont Secondary and originally from Campbell River, described the Commonwealth Games as: “A dress rehearsal for the Olympics . . . an opportunity for our group to go through a multi-sport Games process and see how it responds to that setting.”
