Hello!
My name is Leanna Garcia and I am aspiring to become Spain’s first female monobobsleigh athlete, and first bobsledder to compete at the Olympic Games since 1968.
Bobsleigh is a winter sport that I like to compare to F-1 racing. The athletes will push the sled to gain initial acceleration, jump into the sled, and then the pilot will steer the sled down an ice track moving at speeds of up to 150km/hr. This sport requires speed, power, mental focus and agility, as well as high quality equipment.
As you may know, many professional athletes in Winter Olympic sports (e.g., skiing, skeleton, and bobsleigh) self-fund most of their sports-related expenses, regardless of the country they represent. Additionally, intensive daily training and up to six months per year of travel for training camps and competitions makes it difficult for athletes to work full-time in any job. I love this sport and your support would mean the world to me in terms of being able to continue pursuing my dream.
I joined Team Canada in 2019 as a bobsleigh brakewoman (pushing athlete at the back of the sled). My journey with Team Canada has been a dream, and I’m very grateful to the team and Bobsleigh Canada for their support. Recently, I was offered – and decided to accept – the opportunity to compete for Team Spain as the country’s very first competitive female bobsleigh athlete. This exciting change also means I will be transitioning from brakewoman to pilot (athlete who ‘drives’ the sled at the front), as well as opening up opportunities for other Spanish athletes to go to the Olympic Games.
Becoming a good bobsleigh pilot takes years of experience, which is why I took it upon myself to learn to drive some of the most challenging tracks in the world. Self-funding lessons, sled rentals, travel, equipment and coaching cost roughly $65,000 CAD for the 2023-24 bobsleigh season. Just one week of training in Europe cost me 3000 euros, not including living expenses! My efforts were well-worth it, as I was able to achieve considerable success for a first-time pilot, which helped to boost my confidence in my decision to change roles.
Now, more than ever, I am determined to dedicate myself to this sport and to represent my Spanish heritage on the world stage at the 2026 Olympic Games. I invite you to be a part of this incredible journey, as I strive to turn this dream into a reality. Your donation will be going towards the purchase of tools, safety equipment, travel expenses and coaching.
Thank you!
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