Canadian Rowing Team Nominated for Rio 2016

TORONTO — On Tuesday, the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and Rowing Canada Aviron (RCA) named the 26 athletes nominated to represent Team Canada in rowing at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games from August 5 to 21.

Of the 26 athletes, there are 10 returning Olympians, including six who stood on the podium at London 2012. Leading the way is Lesley Thompson-Willie, the coxswain of the women’s eight, who will be competing in her eighth Olympic Games, tying the all-time women’s record for any sport.

Download hi-res team photos

Canada qualified six boats last September at the World Rowing Championships in Aiguebelette, France. The men’s quadruple sculls qualified as the seventh and final boat at the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta in Lucerne, Switzerland in May.

Canada’s final pre-Olympic competition also took place in Lucerne at the second World Rowing Cup where the lightweight women’s double sculls crew of Lindsay Jennerich and Patricia Obee won a gold medal. Training camps for the men’s and women’s rowing teams will be held in July in Guelph and London, Ontario respectively.

The rowing competition will take place at the Lagoa Stadium, August 6-14, with eight men’s events and six women’s events.

At Rio 2016, Canada expects to field a team of more than 315 athletes.

RCA is a non-profit organization recognized by the Government of Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee as the national governing body for rowing in Canada, representing more than 15,000 registered members.

RCA is a member of the Canadian Olympic Committee, the Canadian Paralympic Committee and the Fédération internationale des sociétés d’aviron (FISA), the international federation for rowing. For more information about Rowing Canada Aviron, please visit rowingcanada.org or follow @rowingcanada.

QUOTES

“I’m fired up to be named alongside these 25 athletes and compete for Canada at Rio 2016! With just over a month until the Games, the four-year countdown is almost at an end. With the help of my coach and support staff, I’m continuing to work towards my best performance. The start line is firmly in my sight and I can’t wait to be representing Canada this summer.”

Carling Zeeman, Rio 2016 athlete

 

“There’s always a great sense of pride in being named to Team Canada. Rio 2016 will be my third Olympics but standing here today, it’s not a feeling I’ve ever taken for granted. I’m ready to compete at my highest level and am excited for the Games to begin.”

Rob Gibson, Rio 2016 athlete, London 2012 silver medallist

 

“Canada will be heading into Rio with a very strong contingent of medal contenders. These athletes have persistently proven their commitment and determination for excellence. Rowing competitions are among the most exciting to watch at the Games and I have no doubt our athletes will be putting on a show for our fans.”

Curt Harnett, Rio 2016 Team Canada Chef de Mission

 

“I am very pleased with this strong team of athletes. They have accomplished a lot in being named today to Canada’s Olympic Rowing Team, showing tremendous dedication over many years to get to this moment. I am confident that this team will meet the tests ahead of them and that they will make us all proud of their performances at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.”

Michael Walker, President, Rowing Canada Aviron

 

“Canada’s reputation as a leading sport nation is due, in part, to the ferocity of our rowers on the water at Olympic Games. Rio will be another chapter in that wonderful story. I encourage all Canadians – 35 million strong – to join Team Canada in cheering for our rowers as they push for the podium in every race in Rio.”

The Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities

The rowing team which will represent Canada at Rio 2016 includes:

Athletes:

First	Last	Hometown	Event
Julien	Bahain	Angers, France	Men’s quadruple sculls
Will	Crothers	Kingston, ON	Men’s four
Will	Dean	Kelowna, BC	Men’s quadruple sculls
Caileigh	Filmer	Victoria, BC	Women’s eight
Rob	Gibson	Kingston, ON	Men’s quadruple sculls
Susanne	Grainger	London, ON	Women’s eight
Nicole	Hare	Calgary, AB	Women’s pair
Brendan	Hodge	South Delta, BC	Lightweight men’s four
Lindsay	Jennerich	Victoria, BC	Lightweight women’s double sculls
Kai	Langerfeld	North Vancouver, BC	Men’s four
Maxwell	Lattimer	Delta, BC	Lightweight men’s four
Pascal	Lussier	Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC	Men’s quadruple sculls
Jennifer	Martins	Toronto, ON	Women’s pair
Natalie	Mastracci	Thorold, ON	Women’s eight
Conlin	McCabe	Brockville, ON	Men’s four
Cristy	Nurse	Georgetown, ON	Women’s eight
Patricia	Obee	Victoria, BC	Lightweight women’s double sculls
Nicolas	Pratt	Kingston, ON	Lightweight men’s four
Lisa	Roman	Langley, BC	Women’s eight
Christine	Roper	Montego Bay, JAM	Women’s eight
Tim	Schrijver	Thedford, ON	Men’s four
Lesley	Thompson-Willie	London, ON	Women’s eight
Antje	von Seydlitz	Smithers, BC	Women’s eight
Lauren	Wilkinson	North Vancouver, BC	Women’s eight
Eric	Woelfl	St. Catharines, ON	Lightweight men’s four
Carling	Zeeman	Cambridge, ON	Women’s single sculls

Alternates:

First	Last	Hometown	Event
Ashley	Brzozowicz	Omemee, ON	Alternate
Matthew	Buie	Duntroon, ON	Alternate
Hillary	Janssens	Cloverdale, BC	Alternate
Kate	Sauks	Owen Sound, ON	Alternate

Coaches:

Position	First	Last	Hometown
Performance Director, Women’s Program	John	Keogh	Launcestron, Tasmania, Australia
Performance Director, Men’s Program	Martin	McElroy	Galway, Ireland
Performance Director, Lightweight Men’s Program	Al	Morrow	London, ON
Coach	Phil	Marshall	Brockville, ON
Coach	Tom	Morris	Perth, Western Australia
Coach	Volker	Nolte	Saarbrücken, Germany
Coach	Terry	Paul	Peterborough, ON

Prior to being named to the final Canadian Rio 2016 Team, all nominations are subject to approval by the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Team Selection Committee following its receipt of nominations by all National Sport Federations.