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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.

Foessel_Brown“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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