Local athletes make Olympic Team

35 B.C. athletes make Canadian Olympic team.

Office of the Premier / Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport.

Thirty-five B.C. athletes have been named to the Canadian Olympic Team and will have the distinct honour of representing their country at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games on home soil, Premier Gordon Campbell announced today.

Local athletes — Emily Brydon, Fernie (downhill, super G) – Manuel Osborne-Paradis, Invermere (downhill, super G) – David Duncan, Golden (ski cross) – Danielle Poleschuk, Fernie (ski cross) – Stan Hayer, Kimberley (ski cross) – Scott Niedermayer, Cranbrook (hockey) – Robert Fagan, Cranbrook (snowboarding

“On behalf of all British Columbians, congratulations to all of these elite athletes for being part of Canada’s Olympic team. Drawn from communities across our province, you represent the strength of spirit and determination of all the people of B.C.,” said Premier Campbell. “While British Columbia has been getting ready to welcome the world, these athletes have been preparing to make their own personal history. They’ve spent years preparing for their moment in the spotlight and they’ll go to the Games knowing they have the support of a province and a nation behind them.”

More than 5,500 athletes from 80 countries will compete in 86 disciplines in 15 different sports. The Canadian Olympic Team features 206 athletes including 32 returning Olympic medallists from Torino 2006 and six world champions from 2009. The XXI Olympic Winter Games take place Feb. 12-28, 2010.

“Every one of these athletes has made a commitment to excellence and they have backed that up with years of dedication, perseverance and sacrifice,” said Minister of Healthy Living and Sport Ida Chong. “Many of them have taken advantage of the support the Province has provided – in competition opportunities and in dedicated programs and services for high-performance athletes and their coaches. B.C. has a strong and vibrant sport system and we’re proud to see these men and women realize their dreams.”

B.C. and Canadian athletes will achieve success at the 2010 Games thanks to support from the Province’s $10-million investment in Own the Podium and $40-million Olympic legacy funding for B.C.’s Integrated Performance System, which supports the coaching and sport science needs of our athletes and coaches. The funding also provides sport participation opportunities for all British Columbians to be physically active and achieve their own personal bests.

During the past five years, government has invested more than $655 million in sport infrastructure to provide facilities for competition, training and athlete and coach development. It has also provided almost $12 million to support major, world-class sporting events around the province, giving B.C. athletes the opportunity to compete in national and international events here at home.

“Many of our B.C. athletes and the rest of the Canadian team have had a chance to train and compete on the Games’ first-class venues,” said Minister of State for the Olympics and ActNow BC Mary McNeil. “VANOC did a superb job getting the venues ready in plenty of time to give our athletes a hometown advantage and I have no doubt we’ll see this reflected on the podium.”

To cheer on these athletes and the rest of the Canadian team, visit www.Olympic.ca and go to the message board to send your well wishes.

Vancouver
January 29, 2010
Office of the Premier
Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport
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Backgrounder

Number of athletes on the Canadian Olympic team: 206
Number from B.C.: 35

Alpine Skiing

• Emily Brydon (Downhill, Super G) Fernie – hometown/residence
• Robbie Dixon (Downhill, Super G) North Vancouver – hometown, Whistler – residence
• Britt Janyk (Downhill, Super G) North Vancouver – hometown, Whistler – residence
• Mike Janyk (Giant Slalom, Slalom) North Vancouver – hometown, Whistler – residence
• Manuel Osborne-Paradis (Downhill, Super G) North Vancouver – hometown, Invermere – residence
• Georgia Simmerling, (Downhill, Super G) West Vancouver – hometown/residence

Biathlon

• Megan Tandy, Prince George – hometown, Squamish – residence

Bobsleigh

• Justin Kripps, Summerland – hometown
• Chris Le Bihan, Kelowna – hometown

Cross Country Skiing

• George Grey, Rossland – hometown

Figure Skating

• Cody Hay, Dawson Creek – hometown

Freestyle Skiing

• Ashleigh McIvor (Ski Cross) Vancouver – place of birth, Whistler – hometown/residence
• Julia Murray (Ski Cross) Vancouver – place of birth, Whistler – hometown/residence
• Kelsey Serwa (Ski Cross) Kelowna – hometown/residence
• David Duncan (Ski Cross), Golden – residence
• Danielle Poleschuk (Ski Cross), Fernie/Winnipeg
• Stan Hayer (Ski Cross), Kimberley – hometown
• Steve Omischl (Aerials) Kelowna – hometown/residence
• Kristi Richards (Moguls) Penticton – hometown, Summerland – born, residence

Hockey

• Duncan Keith, Penticton – hometown
• Scott Niedermayer, Cranbrook – hometown
• Brent Seabrook, Tsawwassen – hometown
• Shea Weber, Sicamous – hometown
• Roberto Luongo, Vancouver – residence

Luge

• Jeff Christie, Vancouver – born

Skeleton

• Amy Gough, Abbotsford – hometown
• Michelle Kelly, Fort St. John – hometown

Snowboarding

• Robert Fagan (Snowboard Cross), Cranbrook – hometown, Squamish – residence
• Justin Lamoureux (Halfpipe), Squamish – residence
• Drew Neilson (Snowboard Cross), Vernon – hometown, North Vancouver – residence
• Mike Robertson (Snowboard Cross), Squamish – residence
• Alexa Loo (Parallel Giant Slalom), Richmond – hometown/residence
• Mercedes Nicoll (Halfpipe), North Vancouver – hometown, Whistler – residence
• Maelle Ricker (Snowboard Cross), North Vancouver – hometown, Vancouver/Whistler – where she grew up; Squamish – residence

Speed Skating – Long Track

Denny Morrison, Fort St. John – hometown