GAINESVILLE, GEORGIA (May 19, 2016) – Roland Varga and Paul Bryant (both of Richmond Hill, ON) won silver medals today in the Men’s C2 1000m at the Pan American Canoe Sprint Championships and Continental Olympic Qualifier in Gainesville, Georgia. They needed to win in order to qualify the boat for the Olympic Games but the crew from Cuba took the win and the Olympic quota spots. While Varga and Bryant battled a strong race in a gusty tailwind, the Cuban crew posted one of the fastest times ever recorded in the event at 3:31.69 and the Canadian crew was 5.23 seconds back.
Canada won four medals in junior events for the Pan American Championships. Daniel MacDonald (Dartmouth, NS) and Foster Salpeter (Montreal, QC) won silver in the Junior Men’s C2 1000m. Jane Girgulis (Calgary, AB) and Emma Mitchell won silver in the Junior Women’s K2 500m. Lucas Turnbull (Toronto, ON) won a bronze in the Junior Men’s C1 1000m and Tess Peterman (Chelsea, QC) also won a bronze in the Junior Women’s C1 500m.
van Koeverden and Oldershaw lead off tomorrow
Competition starts off tomorrow with four-time Olympic medalist Adam van Koeverden (Oakville, ON) chasing Olympic qualification in the Men’s K1 1000m at 9 a.m. EST. A win will secure van Koeverden the entry. Ten minutes later, Olympic bronze medalist Mark Oldershaw (Burlington, ON) will compete for a quota spot in the Men’s C1 1000m. Canada can only qualify either the C1 1000m or C1 200m spot.
Genevieve Orton (Lake Echo, NS) and Kathleen (KC) Fraser (Toronto, ON) will race to earn Canada quota spots in the Women’s K2 500m at 11:50 a.m. and if successful, the crew to compete at the Olympic Games will be determined at National Team Trials 2 in Montreal from June 24-26.
Étienne Morneau (Québec, QC) and Ryan Cochrane (Windsor, NS) will race their heat in the Men’s K2 200m and there are also junior and senior non-Olympic races on the program. Competition continues through to Sunday at Lake Lanier.
Summary of Results
| Athlete(s) | Event | Result |
| Roland Varga (Richmond Hill, ON)
Paul Bryant (Richmond Hill, ON) |
Senior Men’s C2 1000m | 2nd
Silver medal |
| Daniel MacDonald (Dartmouth, NS)
Foster Salpeter (Montreal, QC) |
Junior Men’s C2 1000m | 2nd
Silver medal |
| Jane Girgulis (Calgary, AB)
Emma Mitchell (Winnipeg, MB) |
Junior Women’s K2 500m | 2nd
Silver medal |
| Lucas Turnbull (Toronto, ON) | Junior Men’s C1 1000m | 3rd
Bronze medal |
| Tess Peterman (Chelsea, QC) | Junior Women’s C1 500m | 3rd
Bronze medal |
| Jewelia Orlick (Chelsea, QC) | Junior Women’s K1 500m | 4th |
| Christian Sprang (Oakville, ON) | Junior Men’s K1 1000m | 5th |
| Paul Lapierre (Dartmouth, NS)
Aidan Messenger (Oakville, ON) |
Junior Men’s K2 1000m | 6th |
About Canoe Kayak Canada
Canoe Kayak Canada is the national governing body for competitive paddling in Canada. Canoe Kayak Canada 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