Road to Rio: Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Trials Update
Sail Canada – The countdown continues with only 5 months until the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and 6 months until the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Canadian Olympic sailing hopefuls are working hard to secure their ticket to the world’s foremost sports competition. While the trials are still ongoing in certain Olympic class boats, Sail Canada is pleased to provide an update on specific class nominations:
Nacra 17
Canadian Nacra team Luke Ramsay (RVYC) and Nikola Girke (RVYC) composed a string of noteworthy performances over the course of the year including 9th at 2015 World Cup Hyeres, 12th at World Cup Weymouth, 15th at both World Cup Miami and the 2016 World Championships. The veteran team qualified Canada for an Olympic berth at the Miami World Cup in January. Luke and Nikola are the sole Canadian Nacra team having consistently achieved international performances within the Olympic selection criteria. Sail Canada will nominate Luke Ramsay and Nikola Girke to the team in June. Nikola Girke is a 3-time Olympian (2004, 2008 & 2012) and Luke Ramsay will be making his second consecutive trip to the Olympic stage this summer.
49erFX
Canadian skiff team Erin Rafuse (RNSYS) and Danielle Boyd (RNSYS/KYC) have been Canada’s top 49er FX team for the last two years, competing at the Pan Am Games in Toronto and qualifying the country for Rio at the 2015 World Championships held in Argentina. Rafuse and Boyd scored their best result at the 2015 Weymouth World Cup in 11th overall. Erin Rafuse and Danielle Boyd will be nominated to the team in June.
The Olympic trials continue for all Canadian hopefuls right up until the ‘last chance’ opportunity in June at the Weymouth World Cup. The selection process includes an evaluation of athlete performances utilizing scores achieved at specified 2015 and 2016 events. The final events include; 2016 World Cup events (Hyeres, Weymouth), 2016 Olympic Class World Championships, 2016 Olympic Class European Championships, 2016 Princess Sofia Regatta and Holland Regatta.
All athletes nominated to the Canadian Olympic Sailing team are subject to the approval of the Canadian Olympic Committee.
Paralympic Trials Update
The 2016 Paralympic trials have come to a close with 6 sailors due to be nominated to the Canadian Paralympic Committee for inclusion on the 2016 Canadian Paralympic Team. These Athletes are 2.4mR sailor Bruce Millar (RVicYC), Sonar team, Paul Tingley (RNSYS), Scott Lutes (VQ), Logan Campbell (SSC), and SKUD team John McRoberts and Jackie Gay (RVicYC).
2008 Paralympic Gold medalist Paul Tingley and his crew, Campbell and Lutes, recently won the gold medal at the Miami Sailing World Cup as well as a silver medal at the 2014 Para World Sailing Championships.
2012 Paralympian Bruce Millar secured a silver medal at the most recent Miami World Cup while the SKUD team John and Jackie snagged the silver medal at the 2015 Lake Garda Sailing Week.
An official team announcement will be made in collaboration with the Canadian Paralympic Committee once nominations have been submitted and approved.
Contact Information:
Colleen Coderre
Communications Manager
Sail Canada