Athletics Canada nominates 24 athletes to Team Canada for Rio 2016 Paralympic Games
Athletics Canada and the Canadian Paralympic Committee have announced the nomination of 24 athletes for selection to Team Canada for this September’s Paralympic Games in Rio.
The team is headlined by multiple Paralympic medallists Brent Lakatos of Dorval, Que., Michelle Stilwell of Parksville, B.C., and Diane Roy of Sherbrooke, Que., along with world champion Guillaume Ouellet of Victoriaville, Que.
“Our nominated athletes in para-athletics bring world-class accomplishments and exciting potential to the Rio 2016 Canadian Paralympic Team,” said Team Canada’s Chef de Mission Chantal Petitclerc. “I know that all our athletes and coaches are making the most of these final few weeks of preparation before the Games as they work towards a peak performance in Rio. I can’t wait to cheer them on at the start line in September.”
At the London 2012 Paralympic Games, Canada’s athletics team won nine medals, led by Lakatos with three silvers (200-metres, 400-metres and 800-metres). The 36-year-old Lakatos has also earned 12 International Paralympic Committee (IPC) World Championship podiums (including seven golds) and three Parapan American Games gold medals.
“I can’t wait for Rio,” said Lakatos. “These are my fourth Paralympic Games, and each one has been so different. Athens was a blur, Beijing was bitter disappointment and London was my first taste of the podium. This will be the first time I head in as a favorite.”
The team’s lone gold medallist at London 2012, Michelle Stilwell won gold in the T52 classification wheelchair 200-metres and silver in the 100-metres. Jason Dunkerley and guide Josh Karanja of Ottawa, Ont., won silver in the T11 visually impaired 5000-metres and bronze in the 1500-metres. Guillaume Ouellet will make his Paralympic Games debut as the reigning world champion in the T13 classification 5000-metres, while Rio will mark Diane Roy’s sixth Paralympic Games, an impressive career that has seen her win five Paralympic Games medals overall.
“Congratulations to all the athletes named today to Canada’s athletics team bound for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games,” said the Honorable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities. “Our Government is a proud supporter of Athletics Canada and our athletes should know that all Canadians are behind them as they go for gold in Brazil.”
The Rio 2016 Paralympic Games are set for Sept. 7 to 18. The athletics competition takes place Sept. 8 through 18.
The athletes nominated to the Canadian Paralympic Team are as follows:
Para-athletics team
Male athletes
| Name | Hometown | Classification | Event(s) | Coach(es) |
| *Josh Cassidy | Port Elgin, ON | T54 | 800m/1500m/5000m | Jenny Archer/Amanda Fader |
| Mitchell Chase | Pickering, ON | T38 | 1500m | Craig Blackman |
| Shayne Dobson | Campbellton, NB | T37 | 1500m | Jean-Marc Dorion / Steve LeBlanc |
| *Jason Dunkerley | Ottawa, ON | T11 | 1500m | Ian Clark |
| *Alex Dupont | Clarenceville, QC | T54 | 400m/800m/1500m/4x400m | Rick Reelie |
| *Josh Karanja | Ottawa, ON | Guide runner for Jason Dunkerley | Ian Clark | |
| *Brent Lakatos | Dorval, QC | T53 | 100m/400m/800m/4x400m | |
| Jean-Philippe Maranda | Ste-Aurélie, QC | T53 | 100m/400m/800m/4x400m | Rick Reelie |
| *Alister McQueen | Calgary, AB | F44 | Javelin | Kim Cousins |
| Guillaume Ouellet | Victoriaville, QC | T13 | 1500m/5000m | Félix-Antoine Lapointe |
| Austin Smeenk | Oakville, ON | T34 | 100m/800m | Ken Thom |
| Tristan Smyth | Maple Ridge, BC | T54 | 1500m/4x400m | Kelly Smith |
| Liam Stanley | Victoria, BC | T37 | 1500m | Bruce Deacon |
| Kevin Strybosch | London, ON | F37 | Discus | John Allan |
| *Curtis Thom | Mississauga, ON | T54 | 400m/4x400m | Bob Schrader |
| Female athletes | ||||
| Jenn Brown | Calgary, AB | F38 | Discus | Kim Cousins |
| *Ilana Dupont | Saskatoon, SK | T53 | 100m/400m/800m | Rick Reelie |
| Eva Fejes | Salt Spring Island, BC | Sport Assistant for Ness Murby | ||
| Renée Foessel | Orangenville, ON | F38 | Discus | Ken Hall |
| Pamela Le Jean | Cape Breton, NS | F53 | Shot put | Ueli Albert |
| Ness Murby | Salt Spring Island, BC | F11 | Discus | Sheldan Gmitroski |
| Marissa Papaconstantinou | Toronto, ON | T44 | 100m/200m | Geoff Standen |
| *Diane Roy | Sherbrooke, QC | T54 | 400m/800m/1500m/5000m | Jean Laroche |
| *Michelle Stilwell | Parksville, BC | T52 | 100m/400m | Peter Lawless |
*Denotes previous Paralympic Games experience
The nominated athletes will be supported by the following staff:
| Peter Eriksson | Ottawa, ON | Head Coach |
| Kristine Deacon | Cambridge, ON | Team Manager |
| Kayla Cornale | Toronto, ON | Assistant Manager |
| Ingrid Ruys | Sherwood Park, AB | Family & Friends Manager |
| Félix-Antoine Lapointe | Québec, QC | Coach – Endurance |
| Kim Cousins | Calgary, AB | Coach – Throws |
| John Allan | Toronto, ON | Coach – Throws |
| Kelly Smith | Lake Country, BC | Coach – Wheelchair |
| Rick Reelie | Saskatoon, SK | Coach – Wheelchair |
| Andrea Stephan | Toronto, ON | Physiotherapist |
| Duriell Bernard | Vancouver, BC | Chiropractor |
| Robert Lee | Toronto, ON | Massage Therapist |
| Alvin Bodnarchuk | Saskatoon, SK | Massage Therapist |
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For more information, please contact:
Mathieu Gentès
Director, Corporate Services & Public Relations
Athletics Canada
Phone: (613) 260-5580 x3303 / Mobile: (613) 868-7692
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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