Three Edmontonians make the cut for Canada’s Olympic track team

Seven members of Guelph’s Speed River Track and Field Club have been named to Canada’s Olympic team.

Nine of the athletes are from Alberta.

The athletes earned their spots to Rio in Edmonton at the Canadian Championships and Selection Trials July 7-10 at Foote Field in Edmonton.

“Following a very competitive trials in Edmonton, we have nominated a versatile and focused group of athletes who will be ready to perform on-demand in Rio”, Athletics Canada head coach Peter Eriksson said.

In the men’s artistic field, world pommel horse champion Max Whitlock and three-time Olympic medallist Louis Smith were chosen, along with Kristian Thomas, Nile Wilson and fit-again Brinn Bevan, who broke his leg in two places in November. Why aren’t you trying to win a medal? “The results that we have got behind us as a team, gives us a lot of confidence and hopefully we can all have successful competitions out in Rio”. We have a team that blends great experience with youth, which aims to set new levels of performance on the Olympic stage.

The Canadian team, introduced in a ceremony Monday at City Hall, now has embarrassment of riches virtually across the board.

The men’s quintet were all part of the silver medal-winning team at last year’s World Championships in Glasgow. She competed in the 2014 Commonwealth Games where she won a bronze medal in the pole vault event.

The athletes can take comfort in the depth of the team – there’s enough of them to share the spotlight, and the pressure that comes with it.

“I’m really excited and happy”, Marchant said.

“I think some people counted me out after London and said I would not be around for this one”.

Kat Driscoll is celebrating reaching her second Olympic Games.

“I’ll be looking to perform my best and do the country proud”.