CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — Ken Read has stepped down as director of Canada's Own the Podium winter sports program.

Read said it was a good time for a change with much of the leg work for the 2014 Sochi Games already complete. He said Canada's Olympic and Paralympic winter programs have access to a record amount of funding from corporate partners.

Read became director of the program in 2010 following Canada's successful showing at the Vancouver Olympics. Since Read took over the Own the Podium program, Canadian winter athletes have performed consistently well.