Canada’s canoe/kayak slalom team announced for Santiago 2023

OTTAWA (June 28, 2023) – Canoe Kayak Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee have announced Canada’s canoe/kayak slalom team selected to compete at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games.

The Team Canada slalom paddlers for the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games are:

Athletes
Alex Baldoni (Pau, France)
Léa Baldoni (Pau, France)
Lois Betteridge (Ottawa, Ont.)
Florence Maheu (Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Que.)
Maël Rivard (Ottawa, Ont.)

The five athletes qualified for Team Canada at the Pan American Championships held in Três Coroas, Brazil in late April where they collected a total of five silver medals.

“Being named to the Santiago team is very exciting,” said Lois Betteridge, silver medallist in the women’s C-1 at the Lima 2019 Pan American Games. “Getting to compete for the second time, as part of Team Canada is something very special. It feels amazing to be going as part of a strong team and I hope to be able to contribute to the success of Canada at the Pan American Games!”

No stranger to the major Games atmosphere, Florence Maheu competed in the women’s K-1 event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, finishing 23rd overall. Santiago 2023 will be her first Pan American Games appearance. It will be the first major Games for Maël Rivard as well as siblings Alex and Léa Baldoni. Dual citizens reigning from Pau, France, the brother and sister duo are proud to be representing their mother’s side of the family as a part of Team Canada on the international stage.

Canoe/kayak slalom made its Pan American Games debut at Toronto 2015. Canada has since won seven Pan Am Games medals in the sport. Kayak cross, an exciting new competition format in which four athletes race head-to-head through a whitewater course, made its Pan American Games debut at Lima 2019 and will make its Olympic debut at Paris 2024.

Team Canada will have athletes competing in all of the canoe/kayak slalom events.

“The whole team is delighted for the opportunity to represent Canada in Santiago this fall,” said Canoe Kayak Canada Senior High Performance Manager and three-time Olympian in canoe slalom, James Cartwright. “This season is going to be a marathon with our Olympic qualifications starting in September in London and I know our athletes will also be very motivated to perform as part of Team Canada in Santiago!”

Canoe/kayak slalom will take place October 27-29 (Day 7 to 9) at the Río Aconcagua, Los Andes.

“I’m truly excited to welcome five new athletes on Team Canada who will represent us in canoe/kayak slalom,” said Christine Girard, Team Canada’s Santiago 2023 Chef de Mission. “With a good mix of experienced and newer athletes, the team will surely take our breath away on the whitewater course! An amazing venue and opportunity to showcase this thrilling sport.”

Team Canada’s canoe/kayak slalom coaching staff for the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games are:

Coaches
Anthony Colin (Mansle, France) – International Coach
Michal Staniszewski (Gatineau, Que.) – Next Gen Coach

Prior to being named to Team Canada, all nominations are subject to approval by the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Team Selection Committee following its receipt of nominations by all National Sport Organizations.

The latest Team Canada Santiago 2023 roster can be found here.

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MEDIA CONTACTS:

Colleen Coderre, Communications Lead
Canoe Kayak Canada
C: 613-530-6217
E: ccoderre@canoekayak.ca

Emmalee Nother, Communications Coordinator
Canoe Kayak Canada
C: 905-912-1322
E: enother@canoekayak.ca  

Tara MacBournie, Team Canada Santiago 2023 Sport Communications Lead
Canadian Olympic Committee
C: 647-522-8328
E: tmacbournie@olympic.ca