Rosalind Groenewoud and Mikael Kingsbury join RBC Olympians Program

Program helps Canadian athletes to succeed in sport and in life after sport

TORONTO, May 2, 2013 /CNW/ - RBC today announced two new members of the RBC Olympians Program - 2013 X-Games silver medalist and 2011 World Champion halfpipe skier Rosalind Groenewoud and 2013 Crystal Globe winner and 2013 World Champion moguls skier Mikael Kingsbury. Groenewoud and Kingsbury join 31 Olympic and Paralympic athletes currently involved in the RBC Olympians Program.

"We are excited to welcome Roz and Mikael to Team RBC," said Jane Broderick, chief brand and communications officer at RBC. "As Canada's longest standing corporate supporter of the Canadian Olympic Team, RBC has been helping amateur athletes for more than 65 years. Leading into Sochi 2014, we know how valuable the next several months are for athletes physically, mentally and emotionally, and want to ensure that they have the support and funding needed to succeed."

Through the RBC Olympians Program, which began in 2002, RBC recruits and hires elite athletes to work as community ambassadors to bring the Olympic messages of excellence, teamwork, leadership, and commitment to communities. Athletes are hired from across Canada and during the course of their employment, gather skills and experiences that will help with their career transitions to life after sport. The program also provides the athletes much needed funding and flexible work arrangements which allow them to focus on training and competition. Since its inception, more than 185 Olympic and Paralympic athletes have participated in the RBC Olympians program and 10 have become full-time RBC employees.

"With halfpipe skiing making its Olympic debut in Sochi, this is a dream come true and I am really looking forward to representing Canada and making everyone proud. I am grateful for the support and encouragement of my family, my coaches and corporate partners like RBC as I prepare to compete on the Olympic stage," said Rosalind Groenewoud.

"I'm proud to be part of the RBC team as they understand the pressures facing today's top athletes. Their program gives us the opportunity to focus on our Olympic goals and balance challenging training schedules, while providing the necessary and essential funding that each of us needs to remain at the elite level," said Mikael Kingsbury.

Kingsbury will be in Toronto on May 6 at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, H Wing Courtyard to announce an exciting new charitable event that will support children's mental health initiatives.

About Rosalind Groenewoud

• Silver medalist 2013 X-Games and 2013 Dew Tour
• Gold medalist 2012 X-Games and European X-Games
• 2011 World Champion Halfpipe
• Canadian Halfpipe national champion 2006 and 2007

About Mikael Kingsbury

• 2013 and 2012 Crystal Globe winner
• 2013 World Champion in moguls
• 2010 FIS Rookie of the Year

RBC and Amateur Sport
As Canada's longest-standing supporter of the Canadian Olympic Team since 1947, RBC proudly continues its sponsorship through to London 2012, Sochi 2014 and Rio 2016. RBC also sponsored the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay. Supporting amateur sport, from grassroots programs in local communities to national sport associations, RBC helps in the development of amateur athletes who compete at home and abroad. RBC is also a premier sponsor of Hockey Canada. Visit rbc.com/sponsorship. Follow us on Twitter @RBCOlympic.

SOURCE: RBC