Ioana, Maria Gheta & Johana Vasquez are Recipients of the "FACE" funding grants

50 athlete and coach parings receive $10,000 to help fuel their sport dreams

Ottawa, October 23 – Synchro Canada is proud to announce Ioana Gheta, Maria Gheta and their coach, Johana Vasquez, as recipients of a Petro-Canada “Fuelling Athletes and Coaching Excellence” (FACE) funding. Petro-Canada, a Suncor business, annually awards 50 athlete and coach pairings with funding to help fuel their sport dreams.

“From coast to coast, Canada has many outstanding athletes and coaches and we’re honoured to support Tomorrow’s Team Canada,” said Marc Goodman, director, loyalty and strategic partnerships, Suncor. “Each year we’re inspired by the dedication of our FACE program recipients. Congratulations to the Class of 2015”

Working together with the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC), the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) and their National Sport partners, the FACE program provides developing, pre-carded, Canadian athlete and coach pairings with $10,000 in grants. These resources help athletes achieve national carded status and coaches improve their skills over the long term.

“We are very excited for the Gheta sisters and their coach, Johanna Vasquez, to receive the Petro Canada Face Grant,” stated Synchro Canada’s Domestic Technical Director, Jadine Cleary. “Ioana and Maria are very strong athletes who consistently show dedication and poise and have a great future in synchronized swimming. Thank you also to Johana for your dedication and hard work in developing these athletes.”

Petro-Canada has committed to a total annual financial commitment of $500,000 for every year of the program going forward.

Beginning with the Petro-Canada Torch Scholarship Fund in 1988 and continuing through its re-launch as the FACE Program in 2007, the program has provided more than 2,700 Canadian athletes and coaches with over $9.4 million in direct financial support. Recipients of the 2015 program funding represent both summer and winter sports and represent Canada from coast to coast.

For more a complete list of 2015 FACE recipients or additional information on the FACE program, visit https://www.facebook.com/petrocanadafuelsathletes.

About Synchro Canada

Synchro Canada is an organization that fosters the pursuit of excellence while developing athletes, citizens, and ambassadors of the sport of synchronized swimming at all levels. From its 1924 beginnings in Montréal, synchronized swimming has been actively pursued by more than 70 countries worldwide. Canada proudly ranks among the best of these nations.

Synchro Canada would like to thank its sponsors:

Program partners: Sport Canada, Own The Podium, the Institut national du sport du Québec

Official Aquatic Supplier: Speedo Canada

Official Suncare: Shiseido Canada

Official Make Up: MAKE UP FOR EVER

Official Suppliers: AdUp, National Car Rental

Official Hotel: Hilton Hotels Canada

For further information, visit Synchro Canada’s Website at www.synchro.ca or follow Synchro Canada on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

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For information:

Stéphane Côté

Synchro Canada