July 29, 2016
Archery Canada nominates two athletes to Team Canada for Rio 2016 Paralympic Games
Canadian Paralympic Committee – July 28, 2016 – OTTAWA – Archery Canada and the Canadian Paralympic Committee have announced the nomination of two archery athletes with multiple Games experience for selection to Team Canada for this September’s Paralympic Games in Rio.
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Karen Van Nest photo: Dan Galbraith / CPC
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Karen Van Nest of Wiarton, Ont., will compete in Rio at her fifth Paralympic Games while for Kevin Evans of Jaffray, B.C., Rio will be his third Paralympic Games.
Evans is a two-time world champion (2007 and 2009) and won gold at the Guadalajara 2011 Parapan American Games. Van Nest won silver at the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games and competed in the Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games in pistol shooting. Rio will mark the second time that she competes at a Paralympic Games in archery.
“Karen and Kevin bring a phenomenal amount of experience to the Rio 2016 Canadian Paralympic Team,” said Team Canada’s Chef de Mission Chantal Petitclerc. “Congratulations to both athletes, who have displayed a commitment to excellence and to Paralympic sport over many Games, a longevity that is very impressive.”
Para-archery is one of 22 summer sports on the Paralympic Games program and is practiced by athletes with various disabilities. The Rio 2016 Paralympic Games are September 7 to 18, 2016, with the para-archery events set for September 10 to 17.
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Kevin Evans photo: Dan Galbraith / CPC
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“Karen and Kevin have had a solid start to this season, after several international tournaments overseas,” said Ryan Van Berkel, volunteer coordinator for Archery Canada’s para-archery program and the team leader for Rio 2016. “Their physical and mental training and preparation continues to go well in the lead-up to the Games. I look forward to working with our athletes, their coaches, and performance team in these final weeks leading to Rio.”
Van Nest holds a world ranking of 13th out of 62 archery athletes in her category, the women’s open compound bow. Evans is currently ranked 26th out of 146 in the world in his category, the men’s open compound bow.
“I’m thrilled to join all Canadians in congratulating the archers named to represent the Maple Leaf at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games,” said the Honorable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities. “Canadian archers have had exciting results recently and I look forward to seeing our athletes aim for the podium this summer. I commend the work done by Archery Canada and encourage all Canadians to join Team Canada – 35 million strong – in cheering loudly for all our athletes in Rio.”
Athlete and coach biographies are available at Paralympic.ca/athletes. Bios and high resolution photos can be downloaded at https://www.dropbox.com/sh/m4p1m6p3na1v84h/AACdF8O-LC_ORVdWWSoZhKO1a?dl=0
The athletes nominated to the Canadian Paralympic Team are as follows:
Para-archery team
*Kevin Evans (Jaffray, B.C.)
*Karen Van Nest (Wiarton, Ont.)
*denotes past Paralympic Games experience
The athletes will be supported by team leader Ryan Van Berkel.
About Archery Canada: www.archerycanada.ca
About the Canadian Paralympic Committee: www.paralympic.ca
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For more information, please contact:
Scott Ogilvie, Executive Director
Archery Canada
Tel.: 613-260-2113 / Cell: 613-862-2198
Email: information@archerycanada.ca
Jody Kingsbury
Manager, Athlete Marketing & Alumni Relations
Canadian Paralympic Committee
Tel: (613) 569-4333 x225 / Cell: (613) 851-2337
Email: jkingsbury@paralympic.ca