Ottawa, ON (March 21, 2024) – Boccia Canada is pleased to announce the participation of athletes Danik Allard (Bois des Filion, QC), Kristyn Collins (St. John’s, NL), and Lance Cryderman (Sudbury, ON) at the upcoming Coimbra World Boccia Paralympic Qualifier in Portugal. This event marks a pivotal moment for the BC1/2 Team as they vie to secure a spot at the Paralympic Games this summer in Paris and join the Canadian Paralympic Team.

Currently ranked number eleventh in the world, if the BC1/2 Team clinch a medal at the Coimbra qualifier, they automatically secure a berth to compete at the Paralympic Games.  Should they fail to medal, there is an outside chance any of the trio could qualify for individual play, based on their rankings, or if granted a bipartite slot.

Danik Allard, a seasoned athlete who made his Paralympic debut in Tokyo 2020, expressed his determination to secure another trip to the Paralympics. Reflecting on his journey, Allard emphasizes his growth as an athlete, stating, “I have improved my game, found my playing style, and I’m more mature now [than at the Tokyo Paralympics]” He credits his supportive team for helping him develop as an athlete, underscoring the importance of training and preparation for these upcoming competitions.

The three athletes attended a training camp in early February to prepare for the Qualifier. Given that the athletes all live in different provinces, they were reunited with their BC1/2 Coach, Ed Richardson, alongside Head Coach, César Nicolaï, at the National Training Centre in Montréal, Québec to prepare for the upcoming competition.

Post training camp, Richardson was feeling confident that the group achieved what they were focused on: “The goal of the preparation camp was to enhance our communication skills on and off the court. We put a large focus on strategies to use in different scenarios to help identify who should be throwing when. I feel that we accomplished our goals at the camp and each athlete has taken home specific Team related drills to help in preparation for the final Team qualifying event for Paris 2024. As a Team we’re feeling confident going into this event.”

Boccia Canada extends its support to Allard, Collins, Cryderman, and Coach Richardson as they embark on the quest for this Paralympic berth, as a Team BC1/BC2.

Follow us on Facebook here for all the latest news on their performance in Coimbra.

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 collaborates with partners to increase the participation of Canadians with cerebral palsy and related disabilities in sport and physical activity, while leading, developing and growing boccia from grassroots, to producing World and Paralympic Champions.

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
Email | Courriel: hjanna@bocciacanada.ca
Phone Number: (514) 944-5193