The Thornhill, ON local recently split with his coach Galo Blanco after two and a half years together. This means when 14th seed Raonic steps on to the clay courts of Roland Garros for his first round match against Belgian Xavier Malisse at the French Open he will be looking to himself for the on-court wisdom once provided by Blanco.

“I’m very grateful for everything Galo has done with me and my tennis,” Raonic said in a statement. “I wouldn’t be where I am without him.”

And why not start the process on clay, a surface on which Raonic believes he is improving tremendously and now plays on with more confidence.

This year on clay Raonic is 5-4, bringing his career record to 21-17. In late April he reached the semifinals in Barcelona where he lost to seven-time French Open champion and Rafael Nadal. Raonic has played at the French Open twice before, exiting in the first round in 2011 before making it as far as the third round last year.

The progression is coming at an opportune time.

After a historic Davis Cup performance in April, Raonic (with 35 aces in his two matches against Italy) lifted his Canadian team to a September date with host Serbia in the semifinal… on clay, the battle ground of Serbia’s choosing.

Coach or no coach, Raonic will need to continue getting cozy on the red courts while in Paris.

Follow the French Open here: Daily live coverage on TSN and TSN2 beginning Sunday May 26 at 5 a.m. ET as well as in French on RDS and RDS2.

WHO: Phylicia George, London 2012 Olympian, Athletics

WHEN: Saturday, May 25, 2013 at 8:30 a.m. ET

WHERE: Sport Chek Retail Lab
2529 Yonge Street
Toronto, ON

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Canadian Olympic Committee Media Office:
Jane Almeida, Manager, Media Relations
Tel: 416-324-4120 / Cell: 416-540-1788
Email: jalmeida@olympic.ca

Dimitri Soudas, Executive Director, Communications
Tel: 416-324-4136 / Cell: 289-388-6419
Email: dsoudas@olympic.ca

Brendon Arnold
Communications Manager
FGL Sports
Brendon.arnold@fglsports.com

“Sport is an opportunity to foster leadership skills and we are proud to be sending Joshua, Ohenewa and Élise to the IOA as ambassadors of the outstanding community of athletes we have in Canada,” said Marcel Aubut, President of the Canadian Olympic Committee. “We wish them all the best in their journey and look forward to learning from their experiences.”

“I feel so blessed to have this incredible chance to join so many other athletes from around the world at the Academy,” said Riker-Fox. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for anyone and as an Olympian, I’m especially proud that I’ll be able to be right there in the middle of where the Olympic movement began.”

“There are so many wonderful benefits to Olympism and I can’t wait to join fellow-Olympians and other delegates from around the world to really dive into the study of them,” said Akuffo. “I would like to thank the COC for this amazing opportunity to expand my own horizons, and also to be of service to my community and my country with the incredible knowledge I will gain.”

“After two Olympic Games, you feel like a bit of an Olympic veteran but being sent to the birthplace of the Olympic Movement puts everything in a different perspective,” said Marcotte. “I am incredibly excited to go and I am confident that Ohenewa, Joshua and I will have an amazing learning experience there.”

The IOA unites some of the world’s most vibrant young leaders in sport and physical activity from approximately 100 nations. The session will focus on Olympic Legacy with a special look at the empowerment of Olympism through youth. This year’s theme will be: “The empowerment of Olympism through youth.”

During the session, all three delegates will be sharing their experiences via Twitter and interested parties can follow their adventure in Olympia via @EliseMarcotte, @JoshuaRikerFox, @WarriorOhenewa, through Olympic.ca, and the Canadian Olympic Team Facebook page.

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Canadian Olympic Committee Media Office:
Jane Almeida, Manager, Media Relations
Tel: 416-324-4120 / Cell: 416-540-1788
Email: jalmeida@olympic.ca

Dimitri Soudas, Executive Director, Communications
Tel: 416-324-4136 / Cell: 289-388-6419
Email: dsoudas@olympic.ca

It’s easy to take sport development for granted. In certain sports, in certain regions, it just happens naturally.

East African boys and girls have been growing into gifted runners for generations. In Norway, they say you are ‘born on skis’. In Canada, it’s on the frozen ponds and small-town arenas where our children learn to skate in the shadows of their iconic elders.

“I always dreamed I would get drafted first overall in the NHL,” said Olympic champion Tessa Bonhomme during a recent sport panel, explaining how her dream always seemed tangible as a kid.

Braxton Stone

And in essence, it was.

It’s no secret great opportunity exists for any child dreaming of achieving great things in hockey in this country. Just like in Norway or in Kenya, we live for certain sports.

With other sports, however, grassroots development cannot be taken for granted – or worse, overlooked – if we are going to continue building a nation of champions.

Growing greatness

Halifax, Nova Scotia’s Jackson Carroll just turned 17 years old. He has a dream:  To represent Canada at the 2020 Olympic Games.

Like many Canadian teenagers, he dreams big. But what separates Carroll from many of his peers is his unwavering commitment to his dream: 20 hours of training a week, an international competition schedule and a mature attitude at a critical age of development.

“The annual cost of competing has gone up considerably in the last few years.”

Jackson Carroll

In theory, his future in judo should be written in ink.

He is Canada’s junior national champion, his grandfather is a Canadian Olympic team member from 1952 in the same sport and Canada has a history of greatness in judo that is proving its longevity in sport development.

Aspiring Judokas in Canada have the privilege of developing under the thinking and success delivered by two-time Olympic medallist Nicolas Gill, for example, who recently coached London 2012 bronze medallist Antoine Valois-Fortier to the Olympic podium.

“We are doing what the best nations do, that is train hard with formidable opponents,” said Gill. “We get our finest athletes involved in the required amount of international competitions and training.”
The environment seems perfect for Carroll to reach his dream and live like the champions before him.

But it’s not. It costs money. And because Carroll has chosen a sport that doesn’t have elite-level resources across the country, like hockey for example, he’s going to need financial support to compete and train with the best. This is precisely what Gill suggests Carroll and others with high talent at an early age will need to do.

Nicolas Gill

“The annual cost of competing has gone up considerably in the last few years,” Carroll says.

To remain steadfast on reaching his Olympic dream, he will have to travel to competitions like the junior Pan Am Championships, Youth Olympic Games and World Juniors to keep his name among the top young judokas.
It takes a community

Carroll is a perfect example of how our corporate sport community can take an active, progressive and positive action in the lives our future Olympians and help relieve the cost of travel, resources and development at a baseline level.

And Suncor Energy is answering the call.

On Thursday the company announced its 2013 Fuelling Athletes and Coaching Excellence (FACE) recipients.

Working together with the Canadian Olympic Committee, Canadian Paralympic Committee and their National Sport partners, the FACE program, provides developing (pre-carded) Canadian athlete and coach pairings each with $8,000 in grants. The program has provided more than 2,400 Canadian athletes and coaches with over $8 million in direct financial support.

Yoan Gauthier

Among the 45 names on this year’s list of recipients is Carroll’s.

“The Petro-Canada Face Award will go a long way to help with gaining more International Experience as an athlete,” he said. “The funds will go toward helping me pay for three (important) upcoming events.”

The journey begins

This award is the start of a long journey for Carroll and his fellow FACE recipients. If they continue to remain unconditionally committed to their dreams, an Olympic destination becomes much more attainable. It’s a hard journey enjoyed and endured by an exclusive group of champions.

And it starts with resource funding development programs like FACE.

“Petro-Canada has been a huge support to me throughout my career as an athlete, from the first moment I decided to be an Olympian, 25 years ago,” said four-time Olympic speed skating medallist Kristina Groves. “From being a kid and chasing the dream of running in the 1988 Petro-Canada Olympic Torch Relay, to receiving one of their scholarships so I could train and study in Calgary, to helping my parents watch me compete in Vancouver 2010, (Petro-Canada’s) ongoing contribution to the Canadian Olympic Team and to me has made a tangible difference to my Olympic journey and that of so many other Canadian athletes.”

Catherine Dauplaise

Groves is among fellow FACE program champions including 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games medallists; Alexandre Bilodeau, Hayley Wickenheiser, Kaillie Humphries, John Morris, Mike Robertson, Jim Armstrong and Ina Forest.

Other notable FACE recipients include Mark Tewksbury, Canada’s Chef de Mission at the 2012 London Games, Marianne Limpert, silver medallist at the 1996 Olympic Games and Annie Pelletier, bronze medallist at the 1996 Olympic Games.

Also in this company is a teenager from Halifax with a dream. Carroll and his talented peers can continue to strive for the Olympic podiums because the corporate sport community in Canada continues to prove it is not taking development for granted.

They earn the chance to develop like the champions before them … no matter what sport they choose.

Canada finished third overall in total medals, tied with the U.S. at 29 and just five behind Norway. What stands out from this result however, is not the depth of the medal tally but instead its breadth – especially on the new-look Olympic program.

“I come from a sport that is all about the X Games and never been part of the Olympic family,” said world champion Kaya Turski, who will carry her 2013 world title to the top of the very first slopestyle course in an Olympic freestyle skiing venue. “It’s not an easy path for anyone to get to the top of their game and (all Olympic hopefuls) can relate to those stories … I feel like I’m joining an amazing family.”

Kaya Turski

Turski is looking to join an unquestionably amazing family, sure, but also a diverse one.

Canada’s 29 world championship podiums came in 11 different disciplines. By comparison, Norway compiled its world leading medal tally of 34 in only 6 disciplines.

This is good news.

BRING ON THE NEW EVENTS

When projecting these recent results on to the 2014 Olympic schedule, the impressive variety is exciting for a couple different reasons. It shows Canada has a legitimate shot at finding the podium in many different events — more than the majority of the world. But looking specifically at the events making their Olympic debuts at Sochi 2014, Canadian athletes proved over this past winter season that this country is a significant threat on the new-look Winter Games program.

Turski (of Montreal) indeed dominated the top of the podium in major international competitions over the past four years and added world champion status to her three straight Winter X Games (2010-12) titles and four straight Winter X Games Europe (2010-13) wins.

“It hasn’t been an easy path for anybody to get to the top,” said Turski. “But all (other potential Olympic) athletes around me are so good at what they do … I feel really grateful to be surrounded by such amazing people.”

Mark McMorris

Courtenay B.C.’s Spencer O’Brien added another layer to her reputation as perhaps the world’s most progressive slopestyle snowboarder with a world title, bolstering her four X Games medal count and ramping up excitement to be a part of an Olympic team poised for excellence.

“The chance to meet people on the same journey as me is so inspiring,” said O’Brien. “It really makes me feel at home knowing that there are so many people like me out there, trying to achieve the same goals.”

On the men’s side, snowboard slopestyle phenom and international fan favourite Mark McMorris tacked on a world championship silver medal to a plethora of X Games podiums and a well-known identity for pushing the envelope of freestyle innovation.

LEANING ON TEAMMATES

Despite the obvious excitement around these popular action sports, a key energy point for the Canadian fans leading up to Sochi are the new team events in both luge and figure skating.

Alex Gough

Leading a team of determined lugers is Calgary’s Alex Gough, who earned an individual bronze medal at worlds this past year. She also led her team of Tristan Walker and Justin Snith (doubles) as well as Sam Edney to a silver-medal performance in the new relay event. The pair of podiums for the Canadians made this squad the only country, other than traditional powerhouse Germany, to gather more than one medal on the luge track.

“Those guys mean everything to me,” said Gough about Edney, Walker and Snith. “We have this opportunity to race together and to come from what is traditionally an individual sport for most of our lives. We have such a bond and camaraderie. The last thing I do before I put the visor down is say – ‘let’s go boys’ – it’s a great feeling for all of us.”

Figure skating never fails to capture the globe’s attention when the best gather to do battle. The Canadian team not only welcomed this attention at the world championships in London, ON this past season, but it proved the targets on their backs are real.

Newly crowned three-time world champion Patrick Chan knows this all too well.

“We came with a young team, and this was a huge achievement,” Chan said after worlds. “We look ahead to the Sochi team event, and I feel we are really well prepared to compete there.”

Patrick Chan

Chan’s teammates carry both momentum and potential. This is exemplified by 2010 Olympic ice dance champions and this year’s world silver medallist pair Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir. Also collecting an individual world podium was Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford with a bronze in pairs.

The team capped off the surge of success with a silver medal at worlds as well as the world team trophy later in the year.

The Winter Games event count has increased from the 86 in Vancouver thanks to the addition of 12 new podium chances divided across seven sports and 15 disciplines. From the results Canadians posted this world championship season, it’s clear that Canadians are ready to set the OIympic bar at a height the rest of the world is still reaching for.

The Hershey Centre was host to Canada versus Brazil in World League competition in June 2007.  At that time, Canada faced Brazil in front of sold out crowds. Canada is hoping to recapture that energy and crowd support in the 2013 matches.

“The last time we staged World League matches here, we had sold out crowds and the atmosphere was electric,” stated 1984 Olympian and Honourary President for the Mississauga World League matches John Barrett, at the press conference.  “We are hosting Portugal and Korea this time for two weekends and we want to set attendance records for Canadian events.  My former Team Canada teammate and honourary President for the Quebec City matches Gino Brousseau has issued us a friendly attendance challenge and I don’t intend to lose!  We have a lot of volleyball players and fans in Mississauga and the greater Toronto region so I am confident that we will once again fill the stands.”  Canada hosted Brazil in World League action at the Ricoh Centre in 2012 with over 7,000 fans in attendance.

Head Coach Glenn Hoag stressed the development value of World League for the men’s team program. “It’s extremely important for Canada to measure itself against the best and World League offers us that special opportunity.  Our quadrennial objective is to qualify for the Olympic Games in Rio so all of our training and competition is structured around this objective.  We expect great matches against Portugal and Korea and look forward to playing them in Mississauga in a few short weeks.”

The press conference also featured the participation of veteran players Adam Simac from Ottawa, Ontario and Gavin Schmitt from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.  Both players competed in World League in 2012 and look forward to taking on the world’s best again this year.  Schmitt who has played most of his professional career in Korea looks forward to facing off against some of his former teammates.  Simac, who hails from Ottawa, looks forward to playing in front of family and friends. “It’s always great to play in Ontario. I finally get a chance to show my friends and family what it is I do. They might watch it on TV or online or maybe just hear about it, but they rarely get to see it. It’s always special to play at home.”

The Canadian Olympic Committee was also on hand to support the press conference.  “On behalf of the entire Canadian Olympic family, I would like to welcome all the athletes and coaches to Mississauga for the 2013 FIVB Volleyball World League tournament,” said Canadian Olympic Committee President, Marcel Aubut. “This is a tremendous opportunity for the residents and fans in the Greater Toronto Area to witness some world-class volleyball. We hope to see some of these athletes back on our courts in two years’ time when Toronto hosts the 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games.”

The Canadians returned to World League play last season for the first time in five years and automatically qualified for 2013 finishing 12th overall. Following the home matches in Quebec City and Mississauga, Canada will conclude its World League preliminary round Pool C matches in Finland June 28-29 and Japan July 6-7.

Six teams will qualify for the World League Finals in Argentina featuring the top two teams from Pools A and B, plus the winner of Pool C and Argentina as the host country.

Tickets for the Mississauga matches can be purchased on-line through Ticketmaster (http://www.ticketmaster.ca).

For more information on World League including a press kit, please visit:
http://www.volleyball.ca/content/world-league-2013

Tweet this release: http://bit.ly/14vqon3.

Follow Volleyball Canada and World League action on Twitter: @VballCanada, Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/VolleyballCanada and Instagram @VolleyballCanada using hashtag #FIVBWorldLeague #WLinCanada.

Contact: Kanika Thakar, kthakar@volleyball.ca, 613-724-7602

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Canadian Olympic Committee Media Office:
Jane Almeida, Manager, Media Relations
Tel: 416-324-4120 / Cell: 416-540-1788
Email: jalmeida@olympic.ca

Dimitri Soudas, Executive Director, Communications
Tel: 416-324-4136 / Cell: 289-388-6419
Email: dsoudas@olympic.ca

The four-time Olympic medallist, posted a time of 3:39.1 while Brady Reardon of Oakville placed second with a time of 3:40.0. CanoeKayak Canada athletes and van Koeverden will now be heading to Poznan, Poland for the next World Cup May 31-June 2.

Related Tweet

Stoked to win my 1000m K1 race today & qually up for Worlds in August. Lots of work to be done! Thanks for the push homie Brady @_reardon!

— Adam van Koeverden (@vankayak) May 11, 2013

Related Videos

It matters that you join your neighbours, your community and your country in celebration of
Queen Victoria on her birthday. After all, she’s the woman who started Canada on its road to independence, giving four British provinces to North America … giving the first stich in our Canadian flag.

Jesse Lumsden

“There’s only one reason that we do what we do,” said world silver medallist and 2010 Olympic bobsledder Jesse Lumsden. “To see the Maple Leaf rise above all the other flags, to hear the national anthem. It’s the ultimate reward in amateur sport. You can’t explain that feeling, but the emotion gets you every time. It doesn’t change. I feel like I’ve been lifted up by Canada.”

Lifted, indeed.

The Maple Leaf is stamped in every Canadian passport. It’s what Canadians root for, it’s what athletes tattoo on their flesh, it’s the emblam that lifts this nation to moments of greatness.

Christine Nesbitt

“My mom sent me three Maple Leaves in the mail this fall,” said three-time world champion and Olympic champion Christine Nesbitt just before the May long weekend. “It’s such a special thing to feel connected to this country — this amazingly diverse country.”

Nesbitt’s peer on ice and fellow member of the multiple-time world champion club Patrick Chan knows this feeling intimately and wears it on his sleeve with ultimate pride.

“I’m a first generation Chinese Canadian,” said Chan. “My parents came to this country for a better life, for better opportunities for myself, for their son … That’s why I wear the Maple Leaf proudly every single day. I’m so proud to see the flag rise and to hear the anthem. It’s a moment of sheer pride and honour just to be an ambassador of the country all over the world.”

When you celebrate this weekend, remember too those incredible Olympic moments you celebrated with the athletes and coaches.

It’s the Maple Leaf that made those moments possible.

Patrick Chan

“On behalf of the entire Canadian Olympic family, I want to sincerely congratulate Adham on today’s re-election and on the unparalleled commitment he has shown to the sport of Table Tennis, both here in Canada and around the world. I know that in addition to being President of the ITTF for the past 14 years, Adham has represented Canada in the Table Tennis community, in many different roles. Earning the trust of his colleagues once more is a tremendous accomplishment, and today’s re-election in Paris proves that the world of Table Tennis believes in the importance of Adham’s work and his dedication to the sport. We are all so very proud of you.”

- Marcel Aubut, President, Canadian Olympic Committee

Sharara represented the Canadian national team as a player from 1972-1975.  He became the National Technical Director of Canadian Table Tennis Association (CTTA) from 1978-1982 and served as Canada’s national team coach from 1978-1980. Sharara was elected as Executive Vice-President of the ITTF in 1995 and went on to become President in 1999, where he has remained for 14 consecutive years. Today’s re-election means Sharara will serve as President for another four years with the aim of making Table Tennis one of the top five sports in the world.

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Canadian Olympic Committee Media Office:
Jane Almeida, Manager, Media Relations
Tel: 416-324-4120 / Cell: 416-540-1788
Email: jalmeida@olympic.ca

Dimitri Soudas, Executive Director, Communications
Tel: 416-324-4136 / Cell: 289-388-6419
Email: dsoudas@olympic.ca

“On behalf of the entire Canadian Olympic family, I would like to congratulate Dr. Gaetan Tardif on his recent election. Through his many years of service to the athletes and coaches of the Canadian Paralympic Team, he has been a shining example of what it means to have vision, enthusiasm and a relentless work ethic. I have no doubt that Dr. Tardif will double his efforts as he and his new team continue the outstandingly progressive work that the Canadian Paralympic Committee is known for around the world.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank his predecessor, David Legg, for his invaluable contribution to the Paralympic movement in this country, and on behalf of the COC, wish him all the best in the future.”
- Marcel Aubut, President, Canadian Olympic Committee

Fluently bilingual, Tardif has participated in seven consecutive Paralympic Games, most recently as Team Canada’s Chef de Mission at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. Tardif is an academic physician and health care executive with leadership experience in several professional and not-for-profit organizations. He is Medical Program Director – Rehabilitation and Post-Acute Care at the University Health Network and a Professor in the Department of Medicine and director, Division of Physiatry (PM&R) at the University of Toronto.

Tardif has also served as Director of Administration and Chair of the HR Committee on the Canadian Paralympic Committee Board of Directors from 2008 to 2013 and was a member of the Games Committee from 2006 to 2013.

- 30 -

Canadian Olympic Committee Media Office:
Jane Almeida, Manager, Media Relations
Tel: 416-324-4120 / Cell: 416-540-1788
Email: jalmeida@olympic.ca

Dimitri Soudas, Executive Director, Communications
Tel: 416-324-4136 / Cell: 289-388-6419
Email: dsoudas@olympic.ca