For the first time, a Canadian surfer has received major funding under a prestigious program to get athletes on the podium at the Olympic Games – and she’s only 14 years old.
Tofino teen Mathea Olin is the first surfer in the country to receive a $10,000 boost from Petro Canada’s Fuelling Athlete and Coaching Excellence (FACE) Program.
Olin, widely considered one of the best female surfers in Canada, is hoping to make an international impact when the sport makes its Olympic debut at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Games.
“I want to dedicate my life to getting to the Olympics,” the teen told CTV News in April. “And taking female surfing, like women’s surfing to a different level.”
The FACE program is designed for non-carded athletes, who do not qualify for federal funding, to help them meet Sport Canada’s carding criteria.
The program is intended to give those athletes the financial boost they need to become carded.
FACE doles out $10,000 per athlete and coach to a total of 55 Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls.
