Shooting Team Nominated for Rio 2016
TORONTO — On Thursday, the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and the Shooting Federation of Canada named three-time Olympian Cynthia Meyer and Pan Am Games double gold medalist, Lynda Kiejko, to represent Team Canada in shooting at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games from August 5 to 21.
Kiejko will represent Canada in the women’s 10m air pistol and 25m pistol events while Meyer will compete in women’s trap shooting.
Cynthia Meyer has competed at three Olympic Games, posting her top results at Sydney 2000 where she finished fifth in double trap and 10th in trap. Since making her world championship debut in 1995, she has recorded six top-10 finishes, including three in trap, but the highlight was her double trap silver in 1997. Meyer competed at the Pan Am Games in 2003 and 2007, winning a pair of silver medals in her first appearance. Her multi-sport competition experience also includes four Commonwealth Games where she won a total of eight medals, highlighted by trap gold in 2002. Among Meyer’s other notable podium results are a double trap bronze medal at the 1996 World Cup Finals, two World Cup bronze medals (2005 in trap, 2002 in double trap), as well as a trap gold and double trap bronze at the 2001 Continental American Championships.
Lynda Kiejko comes from a shooting family. Her late father Bill Hare competed at the Tokyo 1964, Mexico City 1968 and Munich 1972 Olympic Games. Her sister Dorothy Ludwig became an Olympian at London 2012 after competing at the 2007 and 2011 Pan Am Games. They competed together at the 2010 and 2014 Commonwealth Games, creating a moment to remember in 2010 when the sisters won bronze in the 10m air pistol pair event. Kiejko also has three Pan Am Games medals to her credit, winning double gold in 10m air pistol and 25m pistol at Toronto 2015 following her 10m air pistol bronze at Santo Domingo 2003. She had started 2015 with a career-high result on the ISSF World Cup circuit, finishing sixth in 10m air pistol in Changwon Korea. She achieved a career highlight in 2014 when she won the national title in 10m air pistol just one month after giving birth. She also competed at her first ISSF World Championship since 2006 and cracked the top-five in 10m air pistol at the Continental American Championships.
The athletes earned their spots at the 2016 ISSF World Cup and Olympic test event held in Rio earlier this year.
The Olympic program contains 15 events: 9 for men – 50m rifle three positions, 50m rifle prone, 10m air rifle, 50m pistol, 25m rapid fire pistol, 10m air pistol, trap, double trap, skeet; 6 for women – 50m rifle three positions, 10m air rifle, 25m pistol, 10m air pistol, trap, skeet.
Canada has won a total of nine medals in shooting at the Olympic Games, the last a gold medal by Linda Thom in 25m pistol at Los Angeles 1984.
At TORONTO 2015, Canada won four medals in shooting (three gold, one bronze).
The shooting competitions will take place at the Olympic Shooting Center from Saturday August 6th to Sunday August 14th
At Rio 2016, Canada will field a team of more than 315 athletes.
QUOTES
“I am so honored to be named to Canada’s Olympic Team for the Rio 2016 Games! While this will be my 4th Olympic Games, it feels like my first as it has been 12 years since my last Games in Athens 2004! My best Olympic results were in Sydney 2000 with a 5th place in Double Trap and a 10th place in Trap, and I am looking for another good performance in Rio.”
Cynthia Meyer, three-time Olympian
“Competing in the Olympic Games has been more than a childhood dream for me, it’s a family affair. Following my father, William Hare, and my sister, Dorothy Ludwig, I will be the third member of my family to compete in the Olympics. Representing Canada is such an honour, and I am aiming to do Canada proud!”
Lynda Kiejko, Rio 2016 Team Canada Athlete
“Congratulations to all of the sharp shooters nominated to the team. Canada has a rich history in shooting competitions and I know that we will see some very strong performances in Rio. The coaches and support staff should be very proud of themselves for getting their athletes competing at such a high level.”
Curt Harnett, Rio 2016 Chef de Mission
“We are proud to announce the naming of shooters Lynda Kiejko – Women’s Pistol, and Cynthia Meyer – Women’s Trap to the Canadian Olympic team for Rio 2016. Both of these athletes recently completed a long and highly competitive selection process culminating with top performances at the World Cup Shooting event held in Rio in April. We are confident these athletes are prepared and will continue to receive the support they need to represent Canada with distinction at the upcoming Olympics.”
Patricia Boulay, President, Shooting Federation of Canada
“On behalf of the Government of Canada and Canadians across the country, I congratulate the athletes who will take aim for the podium in Rio. Team Canada, 35 million people strong, are behind you all the way.”
Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities
The shooting team that will represent Canada at Rio 2016 includes:
Athletes:
| First | Last | Hometown |
| Lynda | Kiejko | Calgary, AB |
| Cynthia | Meyer | Bowen Island, BC |
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.