- Twelve athletes, including
nine Paralympians, to represent Canada
- Paris 2024 Paralympic Games
takes place August 28 to September
8
OTTAWA,
ON, July 11, 2024 /CNW/ - A team of 12
wheelchair rugby athletes have been nominated to represent
Canada at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games this summer, the
Canadian Paralympic Committee and Wheelchair Rugby Canada announced
Thursday.
Paris 2024 Canadian
Paralympic Team – WHEELCHAIR RUGBY
- Cody Caldwell –
Peterborough, ON
- Patrice Dagenais –
Embrun, ON
- Matt Debly – Windsor,
ON
- Joel Ewert – Prince George,
BC
- Byron Green – Victoria, BC
- Trevor Hirschfield – Parksville, BC
- Rio Kanda Kovac – Toronto,
ON
- Anthony Létourneau – Boisbriand, QC
- Zak Madell – Okotoks, AB
- Travis Murao – Toronto,
ON
- Eric Rodrigues – Mississauga, ON
- Mike Whitehead –
Windsor, ON
The team includes nine returning members from Tokyo 2020. Mike
Whitehead will be making his sixth Paralympic Games
appearance, followed by Trevor
Hirschfield and Travis Murao
heading to their fifth Games, and Patrice
Dagenais and Zak Madell at
their fourth.
All five veteran players are Paralympic medallists. Canada's last podium finish at the Games was a
silver in 2012.
"What an amazing moment in time to be part of Paralympic history
in Paris," said Whitehead. "I can
feel the excitement and can't wait to get on the court."
Three athletes will be making their Paralympic debuts –
Matt Debly, Joel Ewert, and Rio
Kanda Kovac. For Ewert, it will also be his maiden
multi-sport Games appearance. Both Debly and Kanda Kovac were part of the silver-medal
winning squad at the Parapan Am Games last November.
"I'm very excited heading into Paris since it's my first Paralympics!" said
Debly. "I look forward to experiencing the Games and the Village;
seeing all the athletes from around the world together to compete
for their countries. I can't wait to take the court on the biggest
stage and represent this amazing country in our pursuit of a gold
medal."
At the Tokyo Paralympic Games, Canada finished fifth, a result it matched a
year later at the 2022 world championships. This roster also
recently was sixth at a very tightly contested Canada Cup in
Richmond, BC, a pre-Games
tournament that brings together the top countries in the world.
Canada, currently ranked fifth
in the world, earned its spot for the Games via a last-chance
qualification tournament in New
Zealand in March, finishing second to Australia. The top three nations at the event
secured Paralympic places.
"The team is excited to compete in Paris next month," said Dagenais. "The
competition is stronger than ever, but we are confident that our
preparation is on point and we are ready to take on the challenge
of facing the best teams in the world. We believe the Games will be
a great experience and we are thrilled to compete in front of a
crowd of wheelchair rugby fans once again."
Wheelchair rugby will take place at Champ de Mars Arena in Paris, located near the Eiffel Tower.
Canada will compete in Pool A
alongside the United States (world
No. 2), Japan (No. 3), and
Germany (No. 9). Preliminary play
will run August 29-31, with the
semifinals September 1, and medal
games September 2.
"Congratulations to all 12 athletes nominated to represent
Canada in wheelchair rugby," said
Josh Vander Vies, co-chef de mission, Paris 2024 Canadian Paralympic Team. "This is
a team with so many experienced Paralympians who have embodied
national and disability pride while competing on the international
stage for years. Combined with the talented newcomers, Canada will be well represented in
Paris with this group of athletes.
We wish the team the best of luck."
"I am so pleased to be welcoming Canada's nominated wheelchair rugby players to
the Canadian Paralympic Team," said Karolina Wisniewska, co-chef de mission,
Paris 2024 Canadian Paralympic
Team. "The wheelchair rugby tournament in Paris is going to be so fierce and exciting
and I'm really looking forward to cheering this team on. I know the
whole country will be behind them as well!"
The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games
will take place August 28 to September
8 in Paris, France.
Canada is expecting to send a team
of approximately 130 athletes.
Prior to being officially named to the Canadian Paralympic Team,
all nominations are subject to approval by the Canadian Paralympic
Committee. The current list of nominated athletes can be found
HERE. The approved final roster will be announced closer to the
start of the Games.
About the Canadian Paralympic Committee:
Paralympic.ca
About Wheelchair Rugby
Canada: WheelchairRugby.ca
SOURCE Canadian Paralympic Committee (Sponsorships)