DUISBURG, GERMANY (May 19, 2016) – Two Canadian athletes competed today at the ICF Paracanoe World Championships in Duisburg, Germany. Christine Gauthier (Pointe-Claire, QC) finished fifth in the Women’s KL2 200m. Erica Scarff (Toronto, ON) placed sixth in the Women’s KL3 200m. While Gauthier had already qualified a Paralympic quota spot in her event at last year’s World Championships, Scarff’s result today earns Canada a second athlete quota. She was one spot away from earning a quota last year and today she was the top competitor in her field who had not already earned a spot.

Both Gauthier and Scarff will still have to prove themselves at National Team Trials 2 as the fastest in Canada within their classes in order to be selected to the Canadian Paralympic Team. The trials are scheduled for June 24 to 26 in Montreal, QC. The two athletes selected to the Paralympic Team will achieve an historic first as this will be the debut of Paracanoe at the Games. Gauthier is a five-time World Champion while Scarff just stepped onto the international scene last season and has been rising through the ranks. The two will remain in Europe to compete at ICF World Cup 2 next week in Racice, Czech Republic with the rest of the Canadian Team.

Canadian paddlers start racing today at the Pan American Championships & Continental Olympic Qualifier in Gainesville, Georgia, USA. A small delegation of Canadian athletes will race ICF World Cup 1 in Duisburg, Germany starting on Saturday.

Paracanoe World Championships
Results
Video

Pan American Championships & Continental Olympic Qualifier
Results
Streaming Video

World Cup 1
Results
Video via CBC Sports

About Canoe Kayak Canada

Canoe Kayak Canada is the national governing body for competitive paddling in Canada. Paddling has been one of Canada’s top performing summer sports having won an impressive count of 24 Olympic medals. Canoe Kayak Canada is a member-based organization which includes an intricate network of clubs as well as provincial, territorial and divisional paddling associations. Elite National Team athletes proudly represent Canada at various competitions around the globe – most notably the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Pan American Games, ICF World Cups as well as Junior, Under 23 and Senior World Championships. Follow Canoe Kayak Canada on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

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For more information:

Ian Miller
Communications and Marketing Officer, Canoe Kayak Canada
613.314.1352
imiller@canoekayak.ca