Canadian Sprint paddlers vying for Tokyo qualification in Burnaby
Burnaby, BC (March 10, 2021) – Canada’s top sprint paddlers are set to compete at the 2021 Olympic and Paralympic team trials in Burnaby, BC from March 11-14. Originally scheduled to be held in Lake Lanier, Georgia last April, this qualification event will mark the first racing opportunity for Olympic and Paralympic Sprint hopefuls in nearly two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Racing will take place on Burnaby Lake over the course of four days with Olympic and Paralympic selection on the line. The outcomes of this event will affirm athlete selections and nominations for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games in the Women’s C-1 and Women’s K-4 500m events. Additionally, these trials will select teams advancing to the 2021 World Cup events and the final Olympic and Paralympic qualifiers in May 2021.
“I am very excited to see some racing,” said CKC Chief Technical Officer, Graham Barton. “It has been almost two years since our athletes have been able to compete and I am very proud of what we have been able to accomplish these past several months. When the races start on Thursday it will be because of the efforts of many stakeholders including our coaches, staff, officials and volunteers who have all worked tirelessly to make this all possible. In particular, Canoe Kayak BC and the Burnaby Rowing Club have been fantastic in getting the venue ready. I think we will see some impressive races this week and I know we will go to our first international competition with a very strong team.”
Canada’s elite sprint paddlers have been training on Vancouver Island for the last six months with COVID travel restrictions preventing the team from locating in Florida. The team recently moved to Burnaby for this closed event, operating under strict COVID protocols – no spectators, media and limited personnel onsite.
“The athlete dedication and commitment to our protocols and living arrangements have enabled our team to continue to prepare for the Games. Our hosts on Shawnigan Lake in Vancouver Island and more recently here in the City of Burnaby have been first class and while the BC coast is new to us for training, it now feels like home.”
CKC would like to thank Canoe Kayak BC and Tourism Burnaby for their support of this event. We encourage families, friends and fans to show your support and send some love for our athletes on social media, tagging @canoekayakcan.
To learn more about the status of Tokyo qualifications for Canadian sprint paddlers, click here.
What:
CKC Olympic and Paralympic Sprint Trials
When:
March 11-14, 2021
Where:
Burnaby, BC – Map
How to Follow:
Live Streaming – Event Website
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About Canoe Kayak Canada
Canoe Kayak Canada is the national governing body for competitive paddling in Canada, one of Canada’s top performing summer sports with a total of 24 Olympic medals, and a leader in the Paralympic movement. Canoe Kayak Canada is a member-based organization that includes an intricate network of clubs as well as provincial, territorial and divisional paddling associations. Elite National Team athletes proudly represent Canada at various competitions around the globe – most notably the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Pan American Games, ICF World Cups as well as Junior, Under 23 and Senior World Championships.