Rideau Canoe Club – The first set of Canadian Sprint trials were held last week from Wednesday, May 5 to Sunday, May 8 in Gainesville, GA (USA). They were used as part of the selection process for several of Canoe Kayak Canada’s teams including the first assessments of the Olympic Team.

Rideau athletes were competing at the trials with hopes to qualify to the Olympic Continental Qualifier in the same venue from May 19 to 22. To qualify athletes needed to win 2 out of 3 races in their discipline. 

Ben Tardioli was successful and will represent Canada at the Continental Qualifiers in the C1 200 M. On Wednesday Ben beat his closest opponent by 0.854 of a second. Thursday the difference was just half a second but enough to clinch the spot.

Ben Tardioli

Another Rideau athlete who had an outstanding performance was Madeleine Schmidt. After competing at the K1 500 M and K1 200 M Continental Qualifiers, Maddy jumped in the K2 500 M with Michelle Russell (Fall River, NS) on Saturday and Sunday to beat other 8 crews from around the country.

Madeleine Schmidt / Michelle Russell

Russell qualified the quota spot for Canada in the Women’s K1 500m last year at World Championships so she is not eligible to compete at the Continental Qualifier. Another crew will need to qualify to K2 quotas at Continental Qualifiers. If Canada is successful in qualifying the spots, the K2 Olympic entry will come down to a race-off at National Team Trials 2 in Montreal from June 24 to 26.

For more information contact:
Hector Carranco
Rideau Canoe Club
Executive Director
Cell: 613-867-7693
Phone: 613-797-7693
Email: hector.carranco@rideaucanoeclub.ca