Manitobans are encouraged to follow and celebrate the accomplishments of the province’s athletes at the 2016 Rio Olympics and Paralympics, which recently began with the opening ceremonies. This announcement was made by Sport, Culture and Heritage Minister Rochelle Squires, minister responsible for Sport Manitoba.

“We are thrilled that so many athletes and support team members with a Manitoba connection are headed to Rio,” said Squires. “These extremely talented athletes range in age from 18 to 38 and will represent Manitoba well in what is surely the world’s most famous international sports competition. Please join me in wishing them great success.”

The Manitoba athletes in Rio include:

  • Isabela Onyshko – artistic gymnastics, age 18;
  • Nicole Sifuentes – athletics, age 30;
  • Erin Teschuk – athletics, age 21;
  • Chantal Givens – paratriathlon, age 38;
  • Meghan Montgomery – para-rowing, age 35;
  • Leah Kirchmann – road cycling, age 26;
  • Leanne Muldrew – sitting volleyball, age 33;
  • Sophie Schmidt – soccer, age 28;
  • Desiree Scott – soccer, age 29;
  • Chantal Van Landeghem – swimming, age 22;
  • Sarah-Anne Brault – triathlon, age 26;
  • Tyler Mislawchuk – triathlon, age 21;
  • Justin Duff – volleyball, age 28; and
  • TJ Sanders – volleyball, age 24.

More information on each athlete’s background can be found at the Canadian Sport Centre Manitoba website.

Sport Manitoba is the lead agency for the development of amateur sport in Manitoba. The focus of Sport Manitoba is on development of athletes, coaches, officials and volunteers in the belief that sport is a healthy and positive tool to build strong and vibrant citizens and communities. With an athlete-centred approach, Sport Manitoba leads and supports Sport for Life through access, participation and achievement in sport by all Manitobans, such as at the 2016 Power Smart Summer Games in Steinbach this weekend, the minister said. She added often these games are where athletes begin their path to the Olympic level.

In addition, the support team members, coaches, sports science and sport medicine staff, officials and mission staff with a Manitoba connection headed to Rio are:

  • Dave Blatz, core health services team, Canadian Olympic Committee (COC);
  • Jane Edstrom, technical official, international athletics;
  • Jared Fletcher, team staff, para-swimming;
  • Tyler Goodale, strength and conditioning, women’s rugby;
  • Lorie Henderson, coach, women’s artistic gymnastics;
  • Adrian Honish, sports science team, COC
  • Derek Ingram, head coach, men’s golf team;
  • Bill Johnson, coach, women’s wheelchair basketball;
  • Adrienne Leslie-Toogood, psychologist, women’s wheelchair basketball;
  • Jared MacLeod, team leader, Athletics Canada;
  • Kelly Mahoney, triathlon chief, venue command centre;
  • Richard Mason, technical announcer, weightlifting/powerlifting;
  • David McKay, coach, wrestling;
  • Larry McKay, assistant coach, men’s volleyball;
  • Vince Mikuska, coach, Paralympic team;
  • Rhea Schmidt, mission staff, Canadian Paralympic Committee;
  • Jan Stephens, steward, Fédération Equestre Internationale;
  • Ryan Van Berkel, team manager, Paralympic archery;
  • Hector Vergara, FIFA technical staff, soccer; and
  • Dana Way, biomechanist, Athletics Canada’s Olympic team.