Canada’s Santiago 2023 triathlon team announced

TORONTO (September 14, 2023) – Triathlon Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee have announced a determined group of Canadian triathletes who will compete at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games.

Triathlon Canada nominated three women and three men to hit the start line this fall at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games, which are:

Athletes
Liam Donnelly (Campbellville, Ont.)
Brock Hoel (West Kelowna, B.C.)
Dominika Jamnicky (Guelph, Ont.)
Emy Legault (L’Île Perrot, Q.C.)
Desirae Ridenour (Cowichan Bay, B.C.)
Martin Sobey (Charlottetown, P.E.I.)

The six-pack of triathletes qualified to compete for Team Canada based on their performances between March 1, 2022 and August 15, 2023 across World Triathlon Championship Series, World Cup, and Continental Cup events. Triathlon Canada will use this multi-sport Games as both a development opportunity for the next wave of promising young athletes and an opportunity for athletes to gain crucial individual Olympic ranking points on the road to Paris 2024.

Desirae Ridenour was part of Canada’s silver-medal winning mixed relay team at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru. Dominika Jamnicky, Emy Legault and Martin Sobey were all part of Canada’s 2022 Commonwealth Games team.

“It’s going to be a great experience in Santiago with an awesome lineup of teammates! I look forward to a fun fall of training to prepare,” said Jamnicky, who has been enjoying a breakthrough season. “Wearing the maple leaf at a major Games is always an honour and I can’t wait to give it my best.”

Liam Donnelly and Brock Hoel, who have been steadily developing through Triathlon Canada’s athlete pathway, will make their international multi-sport Games debuts.

“I’m humbled to be representing Canada at my first major Games in Santiago. It’s been a long time coming, and I’m proud of the work that I have put into getting here,” said Hoel. “I’m looking forward to wearing the maple leaf and putting it all on the line.”

The team will be coached by Pierre-Yves Gigou (Quebec City, Que.).

Canada has earned 10 medals in triathlon at the Pan American Games since 1995. A young group of Canadians made history at Lima 2019, winning the silver medal in the debut of the mixed team relay. The last two individual podium finishes were by Olympian Brent McMahon, who won the silver medal at Rio 2007 and bronze at Guadalajara 2011. The only two gold medals won by Canadian triathletes at the Pan American Games were Sharon Donnelly (1999) and Jill Savage (2003).

“This is an inspired group of athletes who have achieved their performance goals at every step of their development,” said Phil Dunne, high-performance director, Triathlon Canada. “Depth is critical to having the opportunity to mix it up with the world’s best and race at the front of an international pack. We have a nice blend of veterans and NextGen athletes supporting each other in a healthy environment while pushing each other to achieve their individual and team goals in Santiago.”

Triathlon will take place November 2 (Day 13) and November 4 (Day 15) at the Playa El Sol, Viña del Mar.

“I am honored to welcome Team Canada’s triathlon team for the Pan Am Games! Most of us have swam, ran or biked before, but these amazing athletes do it all while leaving a trail of inspiration and achievement that will inspire so many Canadians!” said Christine Girard, Team Canada’s Santiago 2023 Chef de Mission. 

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 Organisations.

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

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MEDIA CONTACTS:

Chris Dornan, Communications Lead
Triathlon Canada
C: 403-620-8731
E: chris.dornan@triathloncanada.com

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