Canadian Sailing Team nominated for Pan Am Games 2015

Toronto, ONT (May 22, 2015) – The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and Sail Canada announced the athletes nominated to represent Team Canada at the TORONTO 2015 Pan American Games from July 10 to 26.

Eighteen athletes have been selected to compete in the sailing competition based on their performances at the designated class qualifiers, including the most recent trials held this past weekend at the Toronto Sailing and Canoe Club.

Among the qualified sailors are Evert McLaughlin; Alexandra Damley-Strnad; Lee Parkhill; Brenda Bowskill; Danielle Boyd; Erin Rafuse; Daniel Borg; Liana Giovando;Jaime Allen, Athens 2004 Olympian Chantal Leger; Jay Deakin; three-time Olympian Nikola Girke; two-time Olympian Zac Plavsic; London 2012 Olympian Luke Ramsay; and 1984 Olympic silver medallist Terry McLaughlin, who will sail the four-person keelboat, J24 with Donald (Sandi) Andrews, David Ogden and David Jarvis. These sailors represent the strongest Pan Am sailing team fielded since the 1999 Pan Am Games in Winnipeg, MB.

The sailing competition will be hosted by the Royal Canadian Yacht Club July 12-19 with a rare glimpse of sailing taking place on the downtown Toronto waterfront. As a non-ticketed sporting event, spectators will soak in the finals from one of Toronto’s most popular urban beaches – Sugar Beach. There are 10 events on the Pan Am Games program: men’s RS:X (windsurfer), men’s Laser (one person dinghy), women’s RS:X (windsurfer), women’s Laser Radial (one person dinghy), the new addition of the women’s 49er FX (skiff), open Sunfish (one person dinghy), open Snipe (two person dinghy), open Hobie 16 (two person catamaran), open J24 (four person keelboat), mixed Lightning (three person dinghy).

Canada will field the largest team in its Pan American Games history with more than 700 athletes expected to be named to the Team at the Games in Toronto. With TORONTO 2015 providing a “home Games” experience, as well as a number of qualification opportunities for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, these Games will provide a tremendous experience for Canada’s high performance athletes.

“Sail Canada and our sailing athletes have been working hard together to develop our team and ensure they are at their best heading into TORONTO 2015. Congratulations to all the athletes who made it onto the Team, your hard work and dedication has paid off – you deserve this great honour.” -Marcel Aubut, President, Canadian Olympic Committee

“Congratulations to the team nominated by Sail Canada today. I am confident that these athletes have trained hard for the past four years to make Canada proud this summer. I strongly encourage fans to come out and support our Canadian sailors as they compete along Toronto’s waterfront.” -Curt Harnett, TORONTO 2015 Team Canada Chef de Mission

“Nothing compares to competing on home soil! I am thrilled to be part of Team Canada and can’t wait to compete in Toronto! It’s now or never!” -Nikola Girke, three-time Olympian, Guadalajara 2011 Pan Am Games athlete

“TORONTO 2015 is a fantastic opportunity to showcase sailing front and center. We are fielding our strongest squad to date and look forward to home ice advantage!” -Ken Dool, High Performance Director, Sail Canada

“I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to the athletes named today to the Canadian Sailing Team for the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games. I hope you enjoy the experience of competing at home during the Year of Sport in Canada, and wish you good luck as you enter the final stages of your preparation.” -The Honourable Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport)

Prior to being named to the final Canadian Pan American 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 towards the end of June 2015.

The sailing team contingent who will represent Canada at the TORONTO 2015 Games are:

Source: Sail Canada