Canadian Olympic Committee and CBC launch “Brave is Unbeatable” campaign
The stories of nine Canadian athletes will be told in the leadup to Paris 2024.
The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and CBC/Radio-Canada launched their collaborative “Brave is Unbeatable” campaign on Friday, which will feature nine Canadian athletes in the leadup to the upcoming Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games.
The campaign focuses on the side of athletes that isn’t talked about as often as their competitive results — that they are not superhumans and deal with the issues that many people deal with, including coping with anxiety, pressure, and rejection, among other things.
A goal of the campaign is to “remind Canadians that everyone faces their own unique set of obstacles, and inspire them to tap into their own sense of bravery to take on whatever comes at them,” according to the press release from the COC.
It features a 60-second film, directed by Academy Award-nominated Canadian filmmaker Hubert Davis — as well as shorter features on each athlete that will be rolled out across several mediums in the leadup to the Games.
The Olympians featured are:
Ellie Black (Halifax, N.S.) – Artistic Gymnastics
Maude Charron (Rimouski, Que.) – Weightlifting
Andre De Grasse (Markham, Ont.) – Athletics
Justina Di Stasio (Coquitlam, B.C.) – Wrestling
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Hamilton, Ont.) – Basketball
Hugo Houle (Sainte-Perpétue, Que.) – Cycling
Philip “Phil Wizard” Kim (Vancouver, B.C.) – Breaking
Maggie Mac Neil (London, Ont.) – Swimming
Skylar Park (Winnipeg, Man.) – Taekwondo
“Throughout my career, when I’ve experienced injuries and setbacks, I used to question whether I could still compete against the world’s best,” said Andre De Grasse, a six-time Olympic medallist in athletics and the reigning 200m Olympic champion, in a press release. “But my belief in myself is stronger than any doubt I’ve ever faced. That resiliency helps me push through all the adversity. And it’s worth it, because when we get to Paris, I know I’ll have the support of the whole country lifting me up, too.”
“I had to completely change my training and preparation in order to drop to a new weight class. This was a big challenge for me,” added Charron, an Olympic champion in weightlifting at Tokyo 2020. “But I adapted, and I am preparing to be stronger than ever and show the world what I’m made of. I’m so happy to represent my country on the world stage, and I hope my story inspires Canadians to keep pushing towards their goals.”
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Brave is Unbeatable is narrated in English and French by a pair of iconic Canadians who have been brave in fighting their own battles in their personal lives — actor Michael J. Fox and singer Celine Dion, respectively.
“I’m so proud to have been part of this campaign,” said Fox in a press release. “It’s amazing to see what these athletes have overcome in order to achieve greatness. I think that story is so important, and we can all relate to that struggle to persevere despite the odds. I consider myself part of Team Canada, and I’ll be cheering them all on as they compete in Paris this summer.”
“The stories of these athletes inspire me,” added Dion. “I cannot wait to see what each of them accomplishes when they go for it in Paris this summer, where I hope they will also inspire the world. It was an honour to be part of this campaign, and to help tell their stories.”
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games will take place from Friday, July 26 to Sunday, August 11.
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