Four local athletes are among 67 named to the CIBC Team Next, a $2 million program created to assist athletes training to represent Canada on the world stage.
Christabel Nettey, 22, in athletics, Isabella Bertold, 22, in sailing and Sukhi Panesar, 19, in field hockey are all from Surrey. Also selected to Team Next is North Delta’s Danielle Kisser, 16.
“This program will provide for these aspiring athletes many of the tools they’ll need to achieve their goals for Pan Am and beyond,” said Simon Whitfield, winner of multiple Olympic medals in triathlon and mentor for CIBC Team Next. “I would like to congratulate our CIBC Team Next athletes for all their hard work so far, and I look forward to being a mentor and a part of their phenomenal journey during this exciting time in their lives.”
Athletes will receive a $5,000 annual grant for the next three years, workshops and advice on personal finances, post-secondary and career planning, social media training and public speaking; community support and networking opportunities through the local CIBC branches and employees in their home community; and CIBC products and services.
They will also receive mentorship from several prominent Canadian athletes such as Whitfield, soccer player Kara Lang, gymnast Kyle Shewfelt, track and field’s Bruny Surin and Paralympian swimmer Stephanie Dixon.