Support Canadian athletes

Two Canadian athletes need your support.  The unfortunate reality for most Canadian athletes is that they have to pay their own way to compete.  The two girls featured below, Rachel Siemens and Rhaea Stinn, have both qualified for elite International competitions this summer, in Olympic weightlifting and powerlifting respectively, and are seeking sponsorships opportunities.  Get to know these incredibly strong girls by reading their biographies, and then see the links provided at the bottom to find out how you can help them in their sporting endeavors. 

Athlete bios

Rachel Siemens
Olympic Weightlifter

Rachel is an Olympic weightlifter from Victoria, BC.  I met Rachel during the first year of my Master's degree and have been enthralled by her athleticism ever since. Rachel has reached many successes in various sporting domains, including: rugby, swimming, water polo, dance, and Crossfit.  Recently, however, Rachel found her way to the sport of Olympic weightlifting and has soared into the elite ranks.  Over the past two years, Rachel has earned the title of BC Provincial Champion and is a two-time bronze medalist at the Canadian Weightlifting Championships. 

Her all time best lifts are: 81k snatch, and 109k clean and jerk.

Beyond the gym, Rachel just graduated from a Kinesiology degree at the University of Victoria.  As part of her Honors project, Rachel investigated the use of Crossfit.com programming, as well as created a seminar that focused on the weightlifting application for kinesiologists.  Rachel works as a personal trainer at Synergy Health, a professionally integrated health and wellness centre in Victoria, BC.   As well, Rachel is currently leading the Vancouver Island division of the BC Weightlifting Association Women's Committee, an initiative aimed to increase female participation and performance in weightlifting across BC and Canada. 

For more on Rachel, please visit her website:
www.SeimensWeightlifting.com. 

Rhaea Stinn
Powerlifter

Rhaea comes from Moosejaw, SK, and is synonymous with powerlifting in Canada.  I can't pinpoint the exact moment I met Rhaea, but I do remember always being inspired to watch her lift.  Rhaea has astonishingly won her weight class at the last 10 National Championships.  As well, she was named Canadian Powerlifting Union Female Powerlifter of the Year in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, and 2010; and named Canadian Female Bencher of the Year in 2008, 2009, and 2010.  Rhaea has also achieved the strongest female pound-for-pound lifter award from 2008-2012. 



Her all-time best lifts are: 235k squat, 157.5k bench press, and 205.5k deadlift. 

Rhaea has a strong commitment to the growth of powerlifting generally.  She is a member of the Saskatchewan Powerlifting Executive Committee, a national-level referee, as well as an accomplished Meet Director for various local meets, and National and World Championships.  As well, Rhaea has started an online retail business called Inner Strength Products that supplies powerlifting and exercise equipment.  Outside of powerlifting, Rhaea recently tied the knot with the president of the Canadian Powerlifitng Union, Ryan Stinn, and has just started a career as a high school science teacher. 


For more on Rhaea, Please visit her website:
www.RhaeStinn.com. 

The competitions

The 27th World University Summer Games, in Kazan, Russia, July 6 - 17, 2013. 

The World University Games is a mult-sport event, hosted every two years, and includes an international slate of athletes from over 45 countries.  To qualify an athlete needs to be in the top of their country's standings and be considered a full-time student.  The city of Kazan is called the "Sports Capital of Russia".   This event is particularly important to the host city because it's the first multi-sport competition in the history of modern Russia.  There is expected to be over 4000 athletes involved at this year's Games. 

The 2013 World Games, in  Cali, Colombia, July 25 - August 4, 2013.


The World Games is held every four years, with 36 sports currently participating.  The event is recognized by the International Olympic Committee, which is significant in the sport of powerlifting since powerlifting is not yet an Olympic sport.  The inclusion of powerlifting in the World Games is a sign that powerlifting is one step closer to becoming an Olympic sport.  Only 40 men and 40 women in the World were invited to participate in the powerlifting portion of the Games, Rhaea was the only person in Canada, male or female, to qualify. 

How can you support? 

Both of these girls have started online fundraising campaigns to help alleviate the cost of travel to these competitions.  The online platforms allow both these athletes to accept donations through PayPal or credit card.  Any support will help, whether you donate money, or share this post with others.  Please see the fundraising links below to donate.   

SUPPORT RACHEL

SUPPORT RHAEA

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