Back-to-back gold medal victories on Day 1 from CIBC Team
Next athletes in 4-person kayak sprint and duet synchronized
swimming
TORONTO, July 11, 2015 /CNW/ - CIBC (TSX: CM)
(NYSE: CM), the Lead Partner of the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games, is
thrilled to congratulate two CIBC Team Next athletes for winning
Canada's first and second Pan Am
gold medals.
CIBC Team Next's kayak sprinter Michelle
Russell won Canada's first
Pan Am gold medal with her teammates in the K-4 500-metre in
Welland. Just hours later, her
fellow CIBC Team Next member Jacqueline
Simoneau captured the gold with her partner in the duet
synchronized swimming competition at the CIBC Pan Am/Parapan Am
Aquatics Centre & Field House in Scarborough.
"I'm speechless. This is a phenomenal way for us to start
the Games. I've got a few races ahead and this is the start
of many great things to come," CIBC Team Next athlete Michelle said
after their victory.
"I am absolutely thrilled for Michelle. She's worked so hard for
this," says Kara Lang, Michelle's
CIBC Team Next mentor and Canadian soccer player and sports
analyst. "I couldn't be happier for her. She's earned it. I am so
proud."
Michelle, 23, who hails from Fall
River, Nova Scotia, and Jacqueline, 18, a Montreal native, are two of the 67
up-and-coming amateur athletes in the CIBC Team Next program, which
provides financial support and advice, plus mentorship from
world-renowned Canadian athlete champions. The program's mentors
include: Simon Whitfield,
Kara Lang, Josh Cassidy, Mary
Spencer, Mark de Jonge,
Stephanie Dixon, Kyle Shewfelt, Bruny
Surin and Benoît Huot. Nearly three-quarters of the athletes
and para-athletes in the program will be competing during the
Games.
"Way to go Jacqueline! I am so happy for you," says her CIBC
Team Next mentor Kyle Shewfelt,
an Olympic and Commonwealth gold-medal gymnast. "You've done
us proud."
Jacqueline is also competing at 3 p.m. on
Saturday in the team event.
CIBC in partnership with AthletesCAN, the association of
Canada's national team athletes,
and the Canadian Sport Institute Ontario selected the CIBC Team
Next roster based on their potential on and off the field of play.
To be considered, the athletes had to be nominated by their
national sport organizations.
About CIBC
CIBC is a leading Canadian-based global financial institution
with 11 million personal banking and business clients. Through our
three major business units - Retail and Business Banking, Wealth
Management and Wholesale Banking - CIBC offers a full range of
products and services through its comprehensive electronic banking
network, branches and offices across Canada with offices in the United States and around the world. You
can find other news releases and information about CIBC on our
corporate website at www.cibc.com/ca/media-centre/.
About CIBC's Pan Am/Parapan Am Games Sponsorship
As the Lead Partner of the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games CIBC is
committed to enriching Canadian communities through the power of
sport. Through our investments we will create a lasting legacy by
funding next-generation athletes, encouraging the volunteer spirit
of our employees, helping finance landmark venues and engaging our
diverse communities while fusing sport with arts and culture. To
learn more visit www.cibc.com/ca/features/panamgames.html.
SOURCE Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
Image with caption: "Kayak sprinter Michelle Russell, 23, part of the CIBC Team Next
program, shows her form in competition ahead of the Games. (CNW
Group/Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce)". Image available at:
http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150711_C9129_PHOTO_EN_43988.jpg
Image with caption: "CIBC Team Next's Jacqueline Simoneau all smiles while training
for Games (CNW Group/Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce)". Image
available at:
http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150711_C9129_PHOTO_EN_43987.jpg