SOCHI 2014 CANADIAN OLYMPIC FIGURE SKATING TEAM ANNOUNCED
OTTAWA – Skate Canada today announced their 17 athletes who are formally nominated onto the figure skating team for the men’s, women’s, pair, ice dance and team events for the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games. The three men’s singles athletes: Patrick Chan, Kevin Reynolds and Liam Firus; the two ladies singles: Kaetlyn Osmond and Gabrielle Daleman; the three pairs: Meagan Duhamel & Eric Radford, Kirsten Moore-Towers & Dylan Moscovitch and Paige Lawrence & Rudi Swiegers; and three ice dance teams: Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir, Kaitlyn Weaver & Andrew Poje, and Alexandra Paul & Mitchell Islam were nominated during an announcement at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa.
“I have thought about this moment for such a long time and it is finally here. I can’t say how honoured I am to be named as a Canadian Olympic Figure Skating team member,” said Eric Radford from Balmertown, Ontario, a Sochi 2014 hopeful. “We will all keep working and training hard in preparation to represent our country in Sochi.”
“When I was little I always imagined what it must be like to go to the Olympic Games,” said Kaetlyn Osmond, from Sherwood Park, Alberta and Marystown, Newfoundland. “Now I am going for sure and I’ve never felt so proud knowing I will represent Canada in Russia. I can’t wait to skate for all Canadians on the Olympic ice.”
“We’re very excited about our figure skating team going into Sochi,” said Marcel Aubut, President, Canadian Olympic Committee. “All of our skaters are very strong contenders and we have tremendous hope heading into the Games. Canada will cheer their skaters on as they compete in Russia to show the world why we are winter.”
The Canadian Team for Sochi 2014 was finalized following the 2014 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships in Ottawa. With 17 skaters, Canada has qualified the largest figure skating team of any country for Sochi 2014: 3 men, 2 ladies, 3 pairs and 3 ice dance. Canada was also the top qualifying country for the team event which will make its Olympic debut in Sochi.
“Canada has a long tradition of excellence in figure skating, and we are proud of the team that has been named to represent our country at the Olympic Winter Games in a few weeks,” said the Royal Galipeau, Member of Parliament (Ottawa-Orleans). “Congratulations to our skaters! Many Canadians will follow you and encourage you as you face some of the world’s best athletes. Good luck!”
The Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games will take place from February 7-23, 2014. The Canadian Olympic Team has set a goal to contend to be the top nation in overall medals won.
List of Figure Skating athletes nominated to the Sochi 2014 Canadian Olympic Team:
Women Singles:
First | Last | Hometown |
---|---|---|
Kaetlyn | Osmond | Sherwood Park, AB; Marystown, NL |
Gabrielle | Daleman | Newmarket, ON |
Men Singles:
First | Last | Hometown |
---|---|---|
Patrick | Chan | Toronto, ON |
Kevin | Reynolds | Coquitlam, BC |
Liam | Firus | North Vancouver, BC |
Pairs:
First | Last | Hometown |
---|---|---|
Meagan | Duhamel | Lively, ON |
Eric | Radford | Balmertown, ON |
Kirsten | Moore-Towers | St. Catharines, ON |
Dylan | Moscovitch | Toronto, ON |
Paige | Lawrence | Kennedy, SK |
Rudi | Swiegers | Virden, MB |
Ice Dance:
First | Last | Hometown |
---|---|---|
Tessa | Virtue | London, ON |
Scott | Moir | Ilderton, ON |
Kaitlyn | Weaver | Waterloo, ON |
Andrew | Poje | Waterloo, ON |
Alexandra | Paul | Barrie, ON |
Mitchell | Islam | Barrie, ON |
These 17 figure skaters now join 10 speed skating athletes, 10 Curling athletes, 16 bobsledders, seven lugers, four skeleton athletes, 21 women hockey players, eight biathletes, five snowboarders, 25 men hockey players and three skiers as the next members on the Canadian Olympic Team. Up to eight more teams will be announced between now and February.
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