Salmon Arm鈥檚 Jordyn Konrad recently made a big appearance in New York鈥檚 famous Times Square.
Konrad鈥檚 image, with her name and the words 鈥淐anadian Amateur Boxer鈥� written beneath, was recently displayed on the 120-foot high (37 metres) Nasdaq billboard as part of a promotional campaign for millions.co, a company that helps promote and support athletes through merchandising.
Peggy Maerz, Konrad鈥檚 Salmon Arm coach and owner of Bulldogs Fitness and Boxing Centre, shared a photo of the billboard in a Jan. 24 post on Facebook. Proud of her pupil, Maerz said she knew in December the billboard was coming 鈥搕hat it鈥檚 part of Konrad鈥檚 quest to fight in the 2024 summer Olympic Games in Paris.
Maerz explained that on the advice of Canadian Olympian/boxer and mentor Mandy Bujold, Konrad connected with millions.co to help build her brand, in part through merchandising which is helping her with the cost of training and travel for fights. One of the goals is to attract sponsors whose support can further Konrad鈥檚 Olympic journey.
鈥淭hat company had a contest鈥� for the most products sold,鈥� said Maerz. 鈥淛ordyn won that contest鈥� So there she is on this billboard in Times Square, with her Boxing BC jacket on, showing the whole world who she is, which is super cool.鈥�
In addition to the billboard, millions.co offers a wide range of Team Konrad branded shirts, caps and hoodies. Maerz noted this self-promotion and brand-building represents a learning curve for Konrad, who she described as being more of a quiet, modest person.
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鈥淪he likes to go through the world quietly, right, so it鈥檚 been a real big shift to then own her spot and be a little bit more vocal,鈥� said Maerz. 鈥淚 want to say loud and proud, but I don鈥檛 think that will ever fit as something that Jordyn would be. She鈥檚 just not that person. She鈥檚 the polite hometown girl that you just can鈥檛 help but root for.鈥�
However, Maerz stressed Olympic dreams for most athletes aren鈥檛 achieved through training and talent alone. Even elite athletes who are carded and eligible for support Canada鈥檚 Athlete Assistance Program.
鈥淓ventually she鈥檒l get carded but even when you鈥檙e carded as an athlete, it鈥檚 not enough鈥�,鈥� said Maerz. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 care what sport, it鈥檚 hard for athletes, once they鈥檙e at that level, to stay at that level without some sort of financial support form somewhere,鈥� said Maerz.
Konrad鈥檚 time is currently divided between B.C. and Ontario, where she benefits from Bujold鈥檚 mentorship and training from champion boxer and elite coach Syd Vanderpool.
鈥淭hey have good sparring for her there and we wanted her to have some mentorship under Mandy because Mandy has been there, done that, and is a phenomenal coach,鈥� said Maerz. 鈥淚 really love and respect Syd Vanderpool, that鈥檚 whose watchful eye she鈥檚 under when she鈥檚 there.鈥�
Maerz said Konrad will be returning to the province in a couple of weeks for a fight.
With all the recent exposure Konrad has received, Maerz said sponsors have taken notice.
鈥淭here are other sponsors looking at her,鈥� said Maerz. 鈥淲hat that means for her , I don鈥檛 know, because the dust hasn鈥檛 settled yet. But I鈥檓 very pleased for her, very proud.鈥�
lachlan@saobserver.net
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