HEY, CANADA? WE HAVE SOME SERIOUSLY GORGEOUS ATHLETES

Canadians are not especially well known for our pride in country. Not that we aren't super-proud to be Canadians, or that we don't love Canada, it's just that we tend not to trumpet it about. So photographer Dan Lim (one of our top lensmen, he's worked with all our major fashion and beauty magazines) is doing it for us in this stunning set of photographs featuring some of Canada's top athletes set against our maple-leaf flag.

Just as important as the national-pride high-five, Dan's created this series he calls "EnWrapture" for the Canadian athletes he spotlights, and for all our athletes who lack the financial support they need to train and compete. Says Dan via his website:

In a recent article about the state of amateur sports funding in Canada written by Kerry Gillespie, she expresses that even gold medal winners have a difficult time securing sponsorships to help offset the high cost of continuing their pursuit of being Olympic Champions. The Canadian ski team, despite winning 7 Olympic medals during the Sochi games, was so broke it could barely afford to finish the ski season.

  

The EnWrapture collection of 12 images features the following six athletes photographed in action against a billowing Canadian flag:

• Vanessa Lacas-Warrick, two-time National Fencing Champion
• Martin Reader, Beach Volleyball player and 2012 London Olympian
• Youssef Youssef, five-time National Judo Champion (under 60kg)
• Donna Vakalis, Modern Pentathlete and 2012 London Olympian
• CJ Moore, 10-M Diver and Silver Medalist at the 2009 PanAm Games
• Jameson Tipping, Professional Basketball player (Brampton A's)

"To support creating opportunity for our athletes, the 12-image series will be donated to the Canadian Olympic Foundation to help young athletes achieve their goals," says Dan on his site. "These images will be auctioned during the Gold Medal Plate Galas in support of the Future Olympians Fund."

Here, have a look at the behind-the-scenes video of the EnWrapture shoot at Dan's studio in Toronto.

You know what? I think it's okay to note that these are some pretty gorgeous Canadian athletes. 

And in Dan Lim's amazing photographs (see them larger here), they put focus on all our future Olympians and will hopefully inspire the support they need to excel. And they'll help us proclaim our Canadian pride more loudly, right? #OhCanada #GoCanada