The province of Ontario, including several Guelph athletes, is well represented at the ongoing Summer Olympic Games.
This year, 118 Ontario athletes and 29 Ontario coaches are representing Canada and competing for a spot on the podium.
Among the Ontario athletes at the games are several Guelph natives, including:
– Natalie Achonwa, of the women’s basketball team;
– Andrew Ford, swimmer in the 200m individual medley; and
– Eric Gillis, marathon.
Of the 118 Ontario athletes at the Games, 90 have benefitted from Ontario’s Quest for Gold program that helps athletes reach the highest level of international competition by providing access to high-performance training and competitive opportunities.
“The [province] is proud to support Ontario athletes who give everything to achieve excellence in sport,” said Michael Chan, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport.
“Programs like Quest for Gold support a strong provincial sport system that helps our athletes demonstrate their skill, strength and stamina in international arenas like the 2012 London Olympics. Congratulations to all our athletes as they prepare for London.
“Your commitment and contribution to sport give Ontarians and Canadians great reasons to be proud.”
Quest for Gold recipients will be competing in more than 50 events at the London Olympics, including:
– boxer Mary Spencer, vying for gold in the first Olympic women’s boxing event;
– Jessica Zelinka, entering her second Olympics and competing in two events: the gruelling heptathlon and women’s 100-metre hurdles;
– Adam Van Koeverden, looking to add to his three Olympic medals in sprint kayak;
– Ian Millar, making his tenth Olympic appearance and seeking to bring home another medal in show jumping with his horse Star Power; and
– Karen Cockburn, looking to extend her winning streak on the trampoline by earning a medal for the fourth consecutive time at the Olympic Games.
Ontarians will also have the opportunity to cheer on its athletes when the Greater Golden Horseshoe plays host to the highly anticipated 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games.
“The [province] was proud to lead the bid to bring the 2015 Pan and Parapan American Games to Ontario,” said Charles Sousa, Minister responsible for the Pan/Parapan Am Games.
“The ‘People’s Games’ will stimulate the economy and build much needed sport facilities for our athletes to train and compete right here at home.
“Our athletes will make us proud as they become champions on the world stage in London this summer and in Ontario in 2015.”
