Canadian Sport Centre Atlantic – HALIFAX (August 4, 2016) – The Canadian Sport Centre Atlantic (CSCA) would like to congratulate all of the Atlantic athletes, coaches and performance experts who will be part of the Canadian Team for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

“The Canadian Sport Centre Atlantic is pleased to play a part in supporting these athletes reach their Olympic dreams. These athletes will be role models for the next wave of Olympians and Paralympians who are currently developing in Atlantic Canada” says Ken Bagnell, President Canadian Sport Centre Atlantic.

The strong Atlantic contingent representing Canada in Rio includes 2012 Olympic medalist Mark de Jonge and 2012 Olympian Ellie Black. Mark de Jonge (sprint kayak) is the defending World Champion and Olympic bronze medalist in the K-1 200m distance. He will be going for gold in Rio with the final taking place on August 20, 2016. Ellie Black made history in 2012 as part of the women’s artistic gymnastics team that placed fifth – Canada’s best Olympic team result to date.  She will be looking to better that result with competition taking place during the first week of the Olympics. 

Also, returning Olympians Ryan Cochrane (Windsor, NS) and Eric Gillis (Antigonish, NS) will join Team Canada once again in Rio. Cochrane, who competed in London 2012, was just named to the team for the K2 200m event in sprint kayak. Eris Gillis will compete in the marathon event at his third Olympic Games.

There will also be six first- time Olympians from Atlantic Canada including canoe kayak athlete Genevieve Orton, athletics athlete Geneviève Lalonde and four locally based sailing athletes, Erin Rafuse, Danielle Boyd, Jacob Saunders, and Graeme Saunders. 

Former Olympics athletes Lisa Ross and David Kikuchi will be on the ground in Rio coaching the sailing and artistic gymnastics teams, respectively. A number of additional Atlantic Canadian coaches will be supporting teams in Rio, including athletics coach, Heather Hennigar.

Several of our CSCA staff members will be contributing to our team’s effort on the ground in Rio. They will be supporting our athletes and teams in performance sciences areas such as performance analysis, sport psychology, strength and conditioning and physiology as well part of Team Canada’s mission staff. 

Athlete Name	Provence	Sport
Ellie Black	Nova Scotia	Women’s Artistic Gymnastics
Danielle Boyd	Nova Scotia	Sailing – 49erFX
Ryan Cochrane	Nova Scotia	Sprint Kayak – K2 200m
Mark de Jonge	Nova Scotia	Sprint Kayak – K1 200m
Eric Gillis	Nova Scotia	Athletics – Marathon
Geneviève Lalonde	New Brunswick	Athletics – 3000m Steeplechase
Genevieve Orton	Nova Scotia	Sprint Kayak – K2 500m, K4 500m
Erin Rafuse	Nova Scotia	Sailing – 49erFX
Graeme Saunders	Nova Scotia	Sailing – 470
Jacob Saunders	Nova Scotia	Sailing – 470

Staff Member	Discipline
Mike Bawol	Performance Analysis
Lori Dithurbide	Mental Performance
Evan MacInnis	Mission Staff
Darren Steeves	Strength and Conditioning
Leo Thornley	Sport Science Lead

About the Canadian Sport Centre Atlantic

The Canadian Sport Centre Atlantic (www.cscatlantic.ca) provides world-class training environments across Atlantic Canada. With the support of our provincial and national partners, we offer quality programs and services in sport science and medicine, coaching, education, and life services to help todays Canada’s high performance athletes and coaches as well as those prospects hoping to represent Canada in future Olympic and Paralympic Games.

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For further information, please contact:

Ken Bagnell

Canadian Sport Centre Atlantic

ken@cscatlantic.ca

902-456-4832