World championship season hits busy stretch for summer athletes
With Pan Am Games behind them, Canada’s summer athletes are in the midst of world championship season with a very busy few weeks ahead in Canadian sport.
Aquatics competitors in diving, synchro, swimming and water polo already took part in the FINA World Championships that concluded earlier this month. Canada brought home eight medals, four each in diving and swimming.
RELATED: World championships medals in Diving | Swimming
World championships prior to an Olympic year often provide a glimpse into athletes to watch on the bigger stage. Here are five upcoming events where Canadian athletes will be featured, including three defending their world titles:
Canoe/Kayak
Mark de Jonge celebrates his Pan Am Games gold in the men’s K-1 200m. (Photo: Michael Hall)
August 19-23 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships – Milan, Italy
- Mark de Jonge is a defending World Champion in men’s K-1 200m.
- Laurence Vincent Lapointe will defend her C-1 200m* world title.
*Non-Olympic event
Athletics
Damian Warner
August 22-30 IAAF World Championships in Athletics – Beijing, China
- Canada won five medals (silver, four bronze) in previous meet – Moscow 2013.
- Returning individual medallists are Brianne Theisen-Eaton (heptathlon), Damian Warner (decathlon), Derek Drouin (high jump).
- Canada also won bronze in the men’s 4x100m relay.
Judo
Antoine Valois-Fortier fights Attila Ungvari of Hungary in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on July 4, 2015 (Photo: IJF Media by G. Sabau).
August 25-30 IJF World Judo Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan
- Returning fighter Antoine Valois-Fortier was Canada’s lone medallist (silver in 81kg) at the previous edition in Chelyabinsk, Russia.
Rowing
Jennerich & Obee – 2014 World Rowing Championships
August 30-September 6 FISA World Rowing Championships in Aiguebelette, France
- Canada won two silver medals in the previous outing at Amsterdam 2014 (Women’s eight and women’s lightweight double sculls).
Cycling
Emily Batty (right) gold medallist and Catharine Pendrel, silver medallist. Women’s mountain bike at 2015 Pan Am Games.
September 1-6 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships – Vallnord, Andorra
- Catharine Pendrel will defend her cross-country world title
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