LONDON, ON, July 26, 2016 /CNW/ - Rowing Canada Aviron and the Canadian Paralympic Committee are proud to announce the five athletes nominated for selection to Team Canada for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games this September.
Canada's legs, trunk and arms mixed coxed four (LTAMix4+) crew will arrive in Rio de Janeiro with significant experience from three-time Paralympians Meghan Montgomery (Winnipeg, Man.) and Victoria Nolan (Toronto, Ont.), as well as coxswain Kristen Kit (St. Catharines, Ont.), who will be competing at her second Paralympic Games.
World indoor rowing champion Curtis Halladay (Sudbury, Ont.) and former national level able-bodied rower Andrew Todd (Thunder Bay, Ont.) round out the crew and will make their Paralympic Games debuts in Rio.
"Canada's para-rowing crew heads to Rio with an impressive track record, plenty of potential and encouraging boat speed," said Team Canada Chef de Mission Chantal Petitclerc. "I know that this team's centralized training and dedication to high performance will ensure they are in a powerful position heading to the Paralympic Games in Rio."
Most recently, the crew won gold last month at the 2016 World Rowing Cup III in Poznan, Poland. They also won bronze at the 2015 world championships, which earned them their berth in Rio.
"I'm proud of the athletes who were announced today to compete at the Paralympic Games," said Michael Walker, President, Rowing Canada Aviron. "The program's success at last year's World Championships and in World Cup racing this spring is a testament to the hard work of the athletes and to the support of everyone who has helped build the Canadian para-rowing program. They have shown that they can compete against the best and I look forward to celebrating their continued success in Rio."
"I am so happy to learn the names of the Canadian para-rowers who have been added to Team Canada for the Paralympic Games this summer," said the Honorable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities. "I join all Canadians, especially the young athletes who will be emulating their heroes at clubs across the country, in wishing our rowers all the best in Rio."
With support from the Pacific Institute for Sports Excellence (PISE) and PRIDE Mobility, a national centre was established last year in Victoria, B. C., enabling the Canadian para-rowing team to centralize and train together.
"I'm excited to be named to my third Paralympic team," said Nolan. "It's an honour to be named alongside this crew. We're a great mix of experience and youth that over the past few months has been able to come together as a team. Our strong finish at World Cup III is just a start for us and I look forward to competing in Rio."
The Rio 2016 Paralympic Games run from September 7 to 18, with the Paralympic regatta taking place from September 8 to 11 at the Lagoa Stadium.
Athlete and coach biographies are available at Paralympic.ca/athletes. Bios and high-resolution photos can be downloaded at https://www.dropbox.com/sh/50ommyr80p133ix/AAC2KUwj-K-CWug3-g10Rjkea?dl=0
The rowing athletes nominated to the Canadian Paralympic Team are as follows:
LTA Mixed Coxed Four (LTAMix4+)
Curtis Halladay (Sudbury, Ont.)
Kristen Kit (St. Catharines, Ont.) - coxswain
Meghan Montgomery (Winnipeg, Man,)
Victoria Nolan (Toronto, Ont.)
Andrew Todd (Thunder Bay, Ont.)
The nominated team will be supported by head coach John Wetzstein (Regina, Sask.).
About Rowing Canada Aviron: www.rowingcanada.org
About the Canadian Paralympic Committee: www.paralympic.ca
Follow the Canadian Paralympic Team:
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SOURCE Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC)
Image with caption: "Canada’s mixed coxed four (LTAMix4+) crew will arrive in Rio de Janeiro with significant experience from three-time Paralympians Meghan Montgomery (Winnipeg, Man.) and Victoria Nolan (Toronto, Ont.), as well as coxswain Kristen Kit (St. Catharines, Ont.), who will be competing at her second Paralympic Games. World indoor rowing champion Curtis Halladay (Sudbury, Ont.) and former national level able-bodied rower Andrew Todd (Thunder Bay, Ont.) round out the crew and will make their Paralympic Games debuts in Rio. (CNW Group/Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC))". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160725_C5175_PHOTO_EN_741937.jpg
Image with caption: "The five athletes nominated to Canada’s para-rowing team for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, announced July 26, 2016, are surrounded by members of the Canadian Olympic rowing team at Lake Fanshawe, in London Ont. (CNW Group/Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC))". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160725_C5175_PHOTO_EN_741939.jpg
Kate Bascom, Media Relations and Communications, Rowing Canada Aviron, Cell: 250-588-9180, Email: [email protected] ; Alison Korn, Senior Manager, Media Relations and Communications, Canadian Paralympic Committee, Tel: 613-569-4333 ext. 243 / Cell: 613-298-4927, Email: [email protected]
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