Canadian Sport Centre Manitoba  – February 9, 2017 –  Over the next two and a half weeks, the Canadian Sport Centre Manitoba will be featuring Manitoba-connected athletes who are on the path to PyeongChang. In one short year, the Opening Ceremonies will signify the beginning of the XXIII Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea. 

Canada’s best athletes now have less than a year to secure an Olympic berth and prepare themselves to perform on the world’s most prestigious stage in winter sport. Three years ago in Sochi, Canada performed memorably, collecting 10 gold medals and finishing fourth in the overall medal standings. Now less than a year away from the 2018 Games, the Canadian Olympic Committee is expecting more than ever from Canada’s winter athletes, who have been on top of the world at World Cup and World Championship events in recent months.

Already, athletes have been travelling to PyeongChang for various test events, and today, the best long track speed skaters from around the world will be competing for the first time on Olympic ice at the Gangneung Oval.

Venue: Gangneung Oval
Competition Dates: February 10-16, 18-19, 21, 23-24
Events: 14 (7 men, 7 women)
New: Mass Start event
Current athletes: Long Track | Speed Skating Canada
Canadian Olympic Team: Olympic.ca

Manitobans to watch: Heather McLean

At the last two winter Olympic Games, Canadian short track speed skaters have impressed the nation. Canada’s long track speed skaters, however, haven’t been dominant at an Olympic level since the days of Clara Hughes and Cindy Klassen, but in 2018 that might change. Many of Canada’s emerging elite speed skaters are long track specialists.
 
24-year-old long track speed skater Heather McLean recently became Canada’s back-to-back champion in both the 500m and 1000m distances. The Winnipegger has made a huge amount of progress in the last few years, and made a serious mark on the World Cup circuit last season by winning four medals – three of them individual medals in the 500m. Heather entered her 2016-2017 season ranked sixth in the world in the 500m distance, and just last month set two new personal bests at the Canadian Single Distance Championships.

Did you know? 
Heather McLean is a graduate of Vincent Massey’s Sports & Arts Program!

This weekend, Heather will be competing at the ISU World Single Distance Championships, speed skating’s biggest event of the year. The WSD Championships take place at the Gangneung Olympic Oval, and will act as the official test event for next year’s PyeongChang Olympic Games. Heather will compete in the 500m and 1000m distances – click here for her competition info.
 
As one of Canada’s best long track speed skaters, Heather looks to be a serious contender at next year’s Olympic Games.

Other Canadians to watch: Ted Jan-Bloemen, Denny Morrison, Ivanie Blondin.

SPORTS & ARTS PROGRAM

Sports & Arts Program applications for the 2017-2018 academic year are available.
The Sports & Arts (S&A) program offers students the flexibility and support they need to achieve their athletic and academic goals. The program is offered through Vincent Massey Collegiate and provides flexible timetables, individualized programs, performance contracts, teacher advisor programs, French immersion, an advanced placement program and honours courses.

APPLY TODAY 

About CSCM: 
The Canadian Sport Centre Manitoba (CSCM) was created as one of the many legacies of the 1999 Pan American Games held in Winnipeg. Today, CSCM is the hub for high-performance sport in Manitoba. A proud member of the Olympic and Paralympic Sport Institute Network, CSCM works to provide a world-class, multi-sport daily training environment for athletes and coaches through integrated services and programs in the fields of physiology, strength and conditioning, nutrition, psychology and support services.

For more information, contact:
Jeff Powell
General Manager, Canadian Sport Centre Manitoba
Direct Line: 204.474.7148 | Email: media@cscm.ca