Canadian biathlon team nominated for PyeongChang 2018
CALGARY (January 16, 2018) — The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and Biathlon Canada officially announced the ten athletes and two coaches nominated to represent Team Canada in biathlon at the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018.
DOWNLOAD: High-resolution team photos for editorial use
Canada secured ten spots based on performances during the 2016-17 IBU World Cup season. Biathletes were selected to positions based on their performances in the 2016-17 and 2017-18 IBU World Cup seasons.
The biathletes nominated are:
| Name | Hometown |
| Sarah Beaudry | Prince George, BC |
| Rosanna Crawford | Canmore, AB |
| Macx Davies | Canmore, AB |
| Christian Gow | Calgary, AB |
| Scott Gow | Calgary, AB |
| Brendan Green | Hay River, NT |
| Emma Lunder | Vernon, BC |
| Julia Ransom | Kelowna, BC |
| Nathan Smith | Calgary, AB |
| Megan Tandy | Prince George, BC |
The coaches nominated are:
| Name | Position | Hometown |
| Matthias Ahrens | National Team Head Coach | Canmore, AB |
| Roddy Ward | National Women’s Team Coach | Canmore, AB |
Two-time Olympian Rosanna Crawford is the veteran of the women’s team. She has been on superb form lately, with third and fourth-place finishes at World Cup #5 this past weekend in Ruhpolding, Germany. Crawford joined forces with Julia Ransom, Megan Tandy and Emma Lunder, for an eighth-place finish in the relay at the Olympic test event. Sarah Beaudry, Crawford, Lunder, and Ransom have all experienced personal-best finishes on the World Cup circuit this season.
The men’s team includes a mix of experienced and first-time Olympians. In 2016, two-time Olympian Brendan Green and Sochi 2014 team member Nathan Smith joined with the up-and-coming Gow brothers to make history by capturing bronze for Canada’s first ever relay medal at the IBU World Championships. The year before, Smith had become the first Canadian male biathlete to win a world championship medal, earning silver in the 10km sprint. He is also the second Canadian man to stand on a World Cup biathlon podium, winning gold in a 12.5km pursuit.
Over the past two seasons, the Gow brothers have climbed the IBU rankings, scoring personal-best results. Smith missed most of 2016-17 due to illness but emerged strong enough to compete at the Olympic test event.
The team will take part in a training camp in Canmore, Alberta until February 2 before making their way to PyeongChang.
Canada has won a total of three medals in biathlon at the Olympic Winter Games, the most recent coming at Lillehammer 1994. At Sochi 2014, Team Canada biathletes achieved best-ever Olympic results in seven of the 11 events.
Biathlon will take place February 10-23 (Days 1-14) at the Alpensia Biathlon Centre.
QUOTES:
“Congratulations to the biathletes nominated today to represent Canada. I am absolutely thrilled by the level of talent on this team. I cannot wait for to see you take to the trail and show the rest of the world what you are capable of.”
– Isabelle Charest, PyeongChang 2018 Team Canada Chef de Mission
“I’m extremely proud to be able to represent Canada at my third Olympics! The team has had a great season so far and I’m looking forward to carrying this momentum into the Olympics!”
– Rosanna Crawford, PyeongChang 2018 nominated athlete
“It is an incredible feeling to be named to the Canadian Olympic team. I have dreamed of this day since I started in the sport back in 2002 and to have finally made it is an indescribable feeling. I have poured so much of my life into this sport trying to realize this goal, I could not be more excited to represent Canada at these Olympic Games.”
– Christian Gow, PyeongChang 2018 nominated athlete
“PyeongChang is a great opportunity for our biathlon athletes to make their country proud. These athletes will be sure to seize this chance. Meet the team and cheer them on!”
– The Honourable Kent Hehr, Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities
Prior to being named to Team Canada, all nominations are subject to approval by the COC’s Team Selection Committee following its receipt of nominations by all National Sport Federations in late January 2018.
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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Caroline Sharp, PyeongChang 2018 Media Attaché
Biathlon Canada
Tel: 613-323-5605
Email: ed@fencingcanada.ca
Josh Su, Coordinator, Communications
Canadian Olympic Committee
Tel: 416-324-4303 / Cell: 647-464-4060
Email: jsu@olympic.ca
Photi Sotiropoulos, Director, Communications and Media Relations
Canadian Olympic Committee
Tel: 416-324-4298 / Cell: 416-476-9174
Email: psotiropoulos@olympic.ca