Release: Triathlon Team Announced For Youth Olympic Games
July 25, 2014
CANADIAN TRIATHLON DUO NOMINATED FOR 2014 YOUTH OLYMPIC GAMES
Emily Wagner and Charles Paquet keen to build from unique Olympic opportunity
TORONTO — Two Canadian triathlon teens will look to swim, bike and run into the history books as the first Canadians to win a medal in the sport at the Youth Olympic Games, August 16-28 in Nanjing, China.
Triathlon Canada officially nominated Emily Wagner and Charles Paquet to represent Canada at the second Youth Olympic Games, which brings together more than 3,500 athletes, ages 15 to 18, who will compete in 28 sports. The Canadian duo secured their spots on the start line with the world’s best young 32 women and 32 men for the triathlon races after reaching the podium at the PATCO qualifying event in Monterrey, Mexico this spring.
Calgary’s 17-year-old Wagner bronze-medal performance against a strong international field in Monterrey earned her a trip to Nanjing. The second-year junior, and reigning 2013 Canada Summer Games champion, will look to capitalize on her strong swimming and running skills.
“It is an honour to be representing Canada at the Youth Olympic Games, which will be my first international multi sporting event,” said Wagner. “I hope to race to the best of my ability and build on my triathlon experiences. I’m looking forward to being part of the Olympic environment and meeting other athletes from across the world and to also embrace the Olympic spirit!”
Paquet, who hails from Port Cartier, Que., backed up a stellar silver-medal performance during the qualifying race with three consistent top-10 finishes on Canada’s National Junior Series. A member of Quebec’s national champion winning mixed relay team, the 17-year-old Paquet has placed fourth, sixth and seventh in his three races on Canada’s premiere development triathlon race series.
“I am proud and privileged to be the only male to represent Canada in my discipline of triathlon. I see this event as the reward for all of the effort that I put in on a daily basis,” said Paquet. “I think this will be an unforgettable experience for me. This level of competition will allow me to compare myself to international elites, and adjust my training plans as a result.”
Montreal’s Kyla Rollinson will serve as the team lead for Canada’s triathletes at the Games.
The triathlon competitions, which have the women slated to compete on August 17th followed by the men’s race on August 18th, will take place at the Xuanwu Lake Triathlon Venue and consist of a 750-metre, open-water swim; a 20-kilometre bike; and a five-kilometre run.
In addition to the individual races, a four-athlete mixed relay triathlon will take place on August 21. Teams will be made up of two women and two men from each continent. Each of the four participants in the relay will compete a 250-metre swim, 7K bike and 1.7K run before tagging a team member to begin the next segment.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Triathlon Canada
Chris Dornan
Triathlon Canada
T: 403-620-8731
E-mail: hpprchris@shaw.ca
Canadian Olympic Committee:
Jane Almeida, Senior Manager, Media Relations
Tel: 416-324-4120
Cell: 416-540-1788
Email: jalmeida@olympic.ca
Luc Beaudin, Coordinator, Communications and Media Relations
Cell: 514 206-6720
Email: lbeaudin@olympic.ca