First Ever Canadian Para-triathlon Squad Nominated for Rio 2016
Triathlon Canada – Four international medal-winning Canucks from across country ready to make history
VICTORIA, B.C. -Four international medal-winning Canadian triathletes are not only ready to make history, but are determined to step onto the podium when the sport makes its Paralympic debut at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
The Canadian Paralympic Committee and Triathlon Canada announced today an experienced group consisting of one man and three women who will be the first Canadians ever to toe the start line in para-triathlon at a Paralympic Games, September 10-11, 2016.
Calgary-based teenage sensation Stefan Daniel will compete in the men’s PT4 division; Winnipeg’s Chantal Givens will be swimming, biking and running in the women’s PT4 category; while Ottawa’s Christine Robbins and her guide, Sasha Boulton, will looking for a medal-winning performance in the women’s PT5 classification for athletes with a visual impairment. Olympic triathlete Carolyn Murray (St. Albert, Alta.) will lead the team as head coach.
“Our sport is still relatively young in Canada, but we have been focused on developing our program with a clear mission for our Paralympic debut in Rio – to win medals, said Jono Hall, high-performance director, Triathlon Canada, who added the national body has been diligent in its recruitment of para-triathletes across the country while also holding centralized training camps over the last three years in preparation for Rio.
“Each of these athletes has demonstrated their fitness and elite level of racing by delivering international medal-winning performances this year. We know these four will do Canada proud in Rio.”
Triathlon boomed across Canada after Simon Whitfield shocked the world to win the first-ever Olympic race in 2000. Canada’s reigning para-triathlon world champion, Stefan Daniel, is looking to replicate the feat for sport in the Paralympic world.
“Representing Canada has always been extremely rewarding, but going to the Paralympics is going to be a totally new and exciting experience,” said Daniel. “I’ve dreamed of representing Canada at the highest level, and I could not be more excited to do it in Rio.”
Athlete and coach biographies are available at Paralympic.ca/athletes. Bios and high resolution photos can be downloaded at http://tinyurl.com/hcug29t
The athletes nominated to the Canadian Paralympic Team are as follows:
Para-triathlon team
Stefan Daniel (Calgary, Alta.)
Chantal Givens (Winnipeg, Man.)
Christine Robbins (Ottawa, Ont.)
Sasha Boulton (Ottawa, Ont.) – guide to Christine Robbins
The nominated team will be supported by head coach Carolyn Murray (St. Albert, Alta.).
About Triathlon Canada: www.triathloncanada.com
About the Canadian Paralympic Committee: www.paralympic.ca
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Chris Dornan
Media and Public Relations
Triathlon Canada
T: 403-620-8731
Email: hpprchris@shaw.ca
Alison Korn
Senior Manager, Media Relations and Communications
Canadian Paralympic Committee
Tel: 613-569-4333 ext. 243 / Cell: 613-298-4927
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Photo: Chad Hipolito / CPC |
