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Biathletes by day, Starbucks baristas by night, Sarah Beaudry and Emma Lunder can sling a rifle just as well as they can sling a cup of coffee.
Thanks to their duel skill set, the two Canadian national biathlon team members have earned Starbucks athlete grants which will help fund their Olympic dreams. Beaudry and Lunder will receive $10,000 each this year from Starbucks to pay for training.
“Sarah and I were shocked when we got the news. We had to make sure we heard them correctly,” Lunder said. “I’ve worked for almost five years at Starbucks and this is huge. It’s a lot less money I’ll have to work for or ask my parents for. It’s so nice to have a job that supports you in that way. It allows me to keep working at Starbucks even with training.”
Starbucks only awards 12 athlete grants across the continent, and this is the first time they’ve given funds to two athletes at the same store. Every year, Starbucks employees apply to the athlete program, but only a handful are chosen. Lunder received a smaller amount last year from Starbucks.
“Our boss is so supportive and makes our schedule work with our training. Everything from team fees to race fees to living fees add up quick in Canmore. Something like this is so huge,” said Beaudry, who has worked for nearly three years at Starbucks.
This is Lunder and Beaudry’s first year on the national team, and the two B.C. natives are part of a strong group of promising female sharpshooters emerging on the Canadian scene. Beaudry won bronze in the pursuit at the 2014 world junior championships, while Lunder finished 30th in her world cup debut last season. Both currently train with the Biathlon Alberta Training Centre in Canmore, while joining national team athletes on various training camps throughout the year.
Both said the money will pay for their training fees, which total $8,500 per year, and help pay for a portion of at least one international tour. Both will chase world cup starts this year, which could cost in excess of $5,000 each.
Payments will begin in October, and both athletes will keep Starbucks updated on their races, starting with last Saturday’s (Sept. 13) North American Summer Roller Ski Championships at the Canmore Nordic Centre.
