News & Articles

Swimming Canada adds four athletes, one coach to Rio Paralympic team

Para-swimming –

OTTAWA – Swimming Canada is pleased to welcome four additional swimmers and another coach to compete at next month’s Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

The additional nominees were made possible after the Court of Arbitration for Sport announced it has dismissed an appeal by the Russian Paralympic Committee against its suspension by the International Paralympic Committee.

The suspension means Russian athletes are not eligible to compete at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games set for Sept. 7 to 18.

The suspension means 267 slots that had been secured by Russian athletes will be distributed by the IPC to International Federations. The Canadian Paralympic Committee contacted Swimming Canada and offered the availability to nominate four additional athletes and one coach, which were identified by the IPC by athlete and event for inclusion.

The new nominees will increase Canada’s Paralympic swim team to 26 swimmers and five coaches.

“We are thrilled to include these new additions on the Canadian Para-swimming team that will compete in Rio,” said James Hood, Swimming Canada’s senior manager, high performance Para-swimming programs. “We want to thank the International Paralympic Committee and the Canadian Paralympic Committee for the chance to make our team stronger.”

The nominees are:
First Name       Last Name       Club (incl. HPC)                                 Coach of Record       Hometown
Camille               Bérubé               GO Kingfish Swim Club                   Dave Heinbuch           Gatineau, QC
Jean-Michel     Lavallière           PSITPQ / CNSJ                                  Mike Thompson         Quebec City, QC
Zack                    McAllister          LA Swim Club                                      Peter Schori                Lethbridge, AB
Danial                  Murphy              Sackville Waves Aquatic Team     Kevin Ross                   Bedford, N.S.

Coach
Johanne            Girardin               Rouge et or (UL)                                                                           Quebec City, QC