Hi, my name is A.J. Stanat and I'm a 22 year-old thrower from St. Thomas, ON, Canada. I'm currently a university level athlete attending the University of Windsor, heading into my last year this Fall. I'm proud to announce that I've been selected to represent Canada in the upcoming 2025 FISU World University Games being hosted in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany. At this meet, I'll be competing in men's shot put, which is my main event. This invitation marks the first opportunity I've had in competing at the national level, as well as donning the fabled red and white - an incredible privilege that I will not take for granted. The Games will also serve as a great stepping-stone for my career as a track and field athlete and thrower, hopefully propelling me into more high-performance meets down the line. The name meet being the holy grail for all track and field athletes across the world - the Olympic Games.

Now, I know that I am not yet ready to grace the Olympic stage, but again, this meet will help to further push me in that direction.

The $2,500.00 will be used to cover flight/travel expenses, accommodations, and team gear. Another critical reason behind my asking price is simple: the meet is not funded by Athletics Canada, the national governing body for track and field. This means that everything needs to be paid for out-of-pocket, hence why I'm reaching out to you, my community.

Most people believe that track and field is an individual sport lacking the traditional team dynamic found in most other name activities, but that just isn't the case. Sure, there's reliance on individual performance, yet these performances eventually compound on top of one another to boost overall team score. Like athletes in all other sports, we're team-oriented, and that's why I'm asking you to be a part of my team, through donation. Your contribution means more to me than the denomination issued, it shows that you took time out of your day to support a young man in accomplishing his dreams, something I greatly appreciate.

Any and all amounts are tremendously valued and accepted, and I couldn't ask for a better community to reach out to during a time of need. Thank you for taking the time to read about me and this path that I am still carefully carving. Your patience, generosity, and compassion are all remarkable. I plan on taking all of your love, admiration, and support with me as I cross international borders and compete on the world stage.

Please feel free to share this page with others even if you don't plan on donating - the exposure is just as important.

I feel a great sense of pride bringing this forward to you as a Windsor Lancer and St. Thomas native.

With gratitude,

A.J. Stanat

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