Jul 27, 2011
10:49 AM
Sports
By Lindsay Hock

Tagged

2011 Travel & Training Grantees Announced

Two-time Olympian and 2011 Travel & Training grantee Carrie Johnson of San Diego, Calif., competes in a kayak race. Johnson's ultimate goal is to medal at the 2012 Olympic Games.

The countdown is officially on. One year from today, the entire world will tune into the grandest display in all of sports – the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympic Games. And while the Opening Ceremonies are all fanfare, pomp and circumstance and celebration, what the athletes who will parade into London's Olympic stadium went through to get there is anything but that.

These athletes will endure blood, sweat and tears --- virtually nothing about their journey will be easy. And unfortunately for some, the financial burden of competing at the highest level can be the most difficult to bare.

That’s where our Travel & Training Fund grant comes in. With the generous support of program partner Gatorade, we provide direct financial assistance to elite female athletes to aid in training costs. Grantees are able to use the funding for coaching, specialized training, equipment, athletic attire, and/or travel. Simply put: We help turn great into best.

Today, we announced 2011’s first-round of Travel & Training grantees. The list contains names you’ll want to keep your eye on – you’ll definitely see some of them a year from now. Hopefully that will be on top of the medal stand.

2011 Travel & Training Grantees:
Aretha Thurmond – Track & Field (Opelika, Alabama)
Natalie Vie – Fencing (Phoenix, Arizona)
Natalie Wells – Archery (La Mesa, California)
Elizabeth Newell – Cycling (Oakland, California)
New Balance Silicon Valley Club Team – Track & Field/Marathon (Redwood City, California)
Carrie Johnson – Kayak (San Diego, California)
Kristin Hedstrom – Rowing (Concord, Massachusetts)
Julia Clukey – Luge (Augusta, Maine)
Maggie Meyer – Swimming (Roseville, Minnesota)
USA Softball Women's National Team – Softball (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
Lauren Johnson – Track & Field (Beaverton, Oregon)
Stephanie Jallen – Skiing, Downhill (Harding, Pennsylvania)
Kayla Bashore Smedley – Field Hockey (Shoemakersville, Pennsylvania)
Kimber Gabryszak – Skeleton (Park City, Utah)

More on our 2011 Travel & Training Grantees here.
More on the history of the Travel & Training fund here.

Make a Donation

Our Mission

The Women’s Sports Foundation is a non-profit that advances the lives of women through sports and physical activity.

About the Foundation

RELATED POSTS

Where Are They Now? 1994 WSF Travel & Training Fund Grantee Jennifer Johnson

Since 1984, our Travel & Training program has helped fuel the dreams of hundreds of deserving athletes. Many of these women have gone on to capture national championships and Olympic gold medals, including figure skater Michelle Kwan, alpine skier Picabo Street, judoka Kayla Harrison and gymnasts Kerri Strug and Gabrielle Douglas. Jennifer Johnson, a wheelchair table tennis player who won gold and bronze medals at the Atlanta 1996 Paralympic Games in addition gold and silver medals at the Seoul 1988 Paralympic Games, is also on that list. In December of 2012, she was inducted into the U.S. Table Tennis’ Hall of Fame, but what has she been up to in the 16 years since her golden Games in Atlanta?

2011 FINA World Championships: The Hype for London Begins

Only two world records were broken --- both by men --- but the most memorable takeaway from the 2011 FINA World Championships was the depth of talent on the U.S. women’s team.

Team WSF Grabs Four Golds, One Silver, One Bronze as London Paralympic Games Close

On Sunday, September 9, the 2012 London Paralympic Games closed. As the flame of the Olympic cauldron died down, the four WSF grantees who competed in these Games tallied their impressive final medal count. We couldn't be prouder to have played a role in these inspiring athletes' pursuit of their dreams through our Travel & Training Fund, a program supported by the generosity of our partners at Gatorade. How they fared: