Ottawa, ON (May 27, 2025) – Boccia Canada is thrilled to announce the official roster for the Canadian team set to compete at the 2025 Beijing World Boccia Cup. This elite team of athletes will represent Canada at one of the most competitive, high-level events on the international boccia circuit, in Beijing, China, this June. It is a pivotal opportunity to compete against athletes in the Asia and Oceanic region who have shown exceptional talent on the Paralympic stage.
The team will feature four athletes: Danik Allard (Bois-des-Filion, QC), Kristyn Collins (St. John’s, NL), Lance Cryderman (Val Caron, ON), and Marco Dispaltro (Montréal, QC), alongside National Assistant and Espoir Coach, Simon Larouche.
Allard, Collins, and Cryderman will compete in both the individual and Team BC1/2 events, while Dispaltro will compete in the individual event only.
The BC1 / BC2 Team heads to Beijing with a track record of success, including an impressive silver medal performance at the 2023 Parapan American Games in Santiago, Chile. Though the Team has had varying lineups since then, they are eager to build on their success and make a bid for another medal finish.
“As a team, I’m really looking forward to the opportunity to be back with Lance and Danik to regain the chemistry we showed at the 2023 Santiago Parapan American Games where we claimed silver,” said Collins. “I’m confident that it will help us build momentum towards future events on the international circuit. We’ve proven that with strong play and great communication, we can always be in the mix for a podium finish for Canada.”
Larouche remarks that this is the first appearance this 2025 season for two talented vets of the sport: “It’s the first World Cup [for Collins and Dispaltro] and a highly anticipated return to competition. It’s part of the National Team’s preparation process for the 2026 World Championships, which will take place in Seoul, South Korea. It’s an opportunity to play against some top-quality athletes in Asia,” explains Larouche, “but there are still several weeks to go with more fine-tuning in the works. We’re excited to put what we’ve learned into practice.”
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About Boccia Canada
Boccia Canada is the boccia delivery arm of the Canadian Cerebral Palsy Sports Association (CCPSA), the National Sport Organization for the Paralympic sport of boccia. Boccia Canada is focused on providing athletes and individuals of all ages and skill with the chance to play a unique Paralympic sport. CCPSA leads, develops and grows boccia from grassroots to producing World Champions, and we collaborate with partners to increase participation of Canadians with physical disabilities in sport.
About boccia
Boccia is a Paralympic sport of precision and strategy similar to lawn bowling or curling, played by athletes with Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, and related disabilities. It is one of only two Paralympic sports that do not have an Olympic counterpart. Athletes compete in one of six sport classes based on their level and type of disability: BC1, BC2, BC3, BC4, BC5, and Open. For more information on boccia, visit www.bocciacanada.ca.
Media Contact
Holly Janna
Communications Lead and National Team Coordinator
Boccia Canada
hjanna@bocciacanada.ca
514-944-5193