The song RISE, inspired by Canadian eventer Jessica Phoenix, has been short-listed by CBC to play during their coverage of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics and Paralympics, in one of the athlete vignettes. How the athlete does determines if and when the vignette – and song – airs.

Performed by Canadian country singer Elyse Saunders, and co-written by Daryl Scott, Kyle Renton and Saunders, the empowering lyrics include the line: “It’s your moment to light up the world with that fire in your eyes, like a powerful phoenix. It’s your time to rise.”

Watch the music video featuring scenes of Phoenix riding:

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Saunders’ description of the song and video states: “RISE is inspired by two-time Canadian Olympian, four-time Pan Am medalist and leading Canadian eventer Jessica Phoenix, from Uxbridge, Ontario.

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“After suffering a heavy fall with her horse while competing cross-country at the Jersey Fresh International Three Day Event in 2015, Jessica underwent emergency surgery and her family was told that she would not recover in time to defend her Pan Am gold medal on home ground. Jessica’s spirit and love of the equine sport would be put to the ultimate test. Unwavering grit was all that Jessica needed to see her through to a full recovery. Returning to the sport she loved in record time, Jessica Phoenix led the Canadian Eventing Team at the Toronto Pan Am Games, winning an individual silver, and a bronze for Team Canada on her mount Pavarotti, an outstanding achievement, given the gravity of her injuries … a lacerated liver, a shattered sacrum, a punctured lung, 3 broken ribs and a concussion‎.