Sochi 2014 Canadian Bobsleigh Team Announced

MONTREAL – A star-studded line-up of 16 medal-winning athletes have officially been nominated by Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton to represent Canada in men’s and women’s bobsleigh at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games.

Olympic bronze medal-winning pilot, Lyndon Rush, will lead the 12 men into Sochi which includes: David Bissett, Lascelles Brown, Neville Wright, Chris Spring, Jesse Lumsden, Cody Sorensen, Ben Coakwell, Justin Kripps, James McNaughton, Tim Randall, Bryan Barnett and Graeme Rinholm. Reigning Olympic women’s champions, Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse along with Jenny Ciochetti, and Chelsea Valois were also named during an announcement at the Chalet du Mont Royal in Montreal on Monday. Four athletes, including Luke Demetre, Sam Giguere, Emily Baadsvik, and Kate O’Brien are still vying for the final two positions that will be confirmed in January.

"It’s always an exceptional feeling to stand atop the podium and hear the national anthem played," said Heather Moyse, Vancouver 2010 gold medallist. "Every Olympic Games is special – I feel the same excitement and pride today as I did when I was named to the 2006 and 2010 Canadian Olympic Teams. I know we are all going to give our everything to represent Canada the best we can."

Making his Olympic debut, brakeman Cody Sorenson of Ottawa is looking to add to his collection of World Cup and World Championship medals as part of Team Spring.

"When you look at our group, we truly are Canada’s team, with athletes hailing from all corners of the country – from British Columbia to P.E.I., and just about every province in between," said Sorensen. "A culture of winning has been developed in Canada’s bobsleigh program, and it is huge motivation for us to know that at any point, on any track around the world, we are medal-contenders. It is very special to put on the Canadian jacket today, but now the work really begins because this spirited group is heading to Sochi to get on the podium."

"Canada’s Bobsleigh athletes have a reputation for always bringing their A-game and I have no doubt that our new men’s and women’s Olympic Teams will do just that," said Marcel Aubut, President, Canadian Olympic Committee. "Congratulations to each and every one of our new Bobsleigh Olympic Team Members, I have all confidence you will do Canada proud in Sochi."

"Today’s nominated men’s and women’s Olympic bobsleigh team members should be very proud of the outstanding performances that have brought them to this moment," said Jacques Gourde, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, for Official Languages and for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec. "On behalf of the Government of Canada, I would like to congratulate each one of the team members. All of Canada looks forward to cheering you on in Sochi."

Canada’s first Olympic bobsleigh medal was a gold, won by Vic Emery’s four-man crew at Innsbruck 1964. This was the first time that Canada had ever entered the Olympic bobsleigh competition and has been called the biggest upset in Olympic bobsleigh history. The feat established a tradition of excellence on the Olympic track. Canadian bobsleigh athletes added to their medal haul in Nagano in 1998, Torino in 2006, and finished one-two in the women’s races. In addition, Canada took home a bronze medal in the men’s four-man at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. In fact, over the last three Olympic quadrennials, Canada’s men’s and women’s bobsleigh athletes have combined to win well over 100 international medals.

Canada has competed in bobsleigh at every Olympic Winter Games, dating back to Innsbruck 1964 and has also competed in women’s bobsleigh at each Games since it was added at Salt Lake City 2002. The Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games will take place from February 7-23, 2014. The Canadian Olympic Team has set a goal to contend for the top spot in overall medals won.

List of Bobsleigh athletes nominated to the Sochi 2014 Canadian Olympic Team:

*Denotes four athletes are still vying for the remaining two spots.

Women:

First - Last -Hometown

Kaillie Humphries Calgary, AB

Heather Moyse Summerside, PE

Jenny Ciochetti Edmonton, AB

Chelsea Valois Zenon Park, SK

*Emily Baadsvik St. Stephen, NB

*Kate O’Brien Calgary, AB

Men:

First - Last -Hometown

Lyndon Rush Humboldt, SK

Dave Bissett Edmonton, AB

Lascelles Brown Calgary, AB

Neville Wright Edmonton, AB

Chris Spring Calgary, AB

Jesse Lumsden Burlington, ON

Cody Sorensen Ottawa, ON

Ben Coakwell Saskatoon, SK

Justin Kripps Summerland, BC

James McNaughton Newmarket, ON

Tim Randall Toronto, ON

Bryan Barnett Edmonton, AB

Graeme Rinholm Medicine Hat, AB

*Sam Giguere Sherbrooke, QB

*Luke Demetre Halifax, NS

Canada’s bobsleigh athletes now join 10 speed skating athletes and 10 curling athletes as the next members on the Canadian Olympic Team. Up to 16 more teams will be announced between now and February.

Prior to being named to the final Canadian Olympic Team, all nominations are subject to approval by the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Team Selection Committee following its receipt of nominations by all National Sport Federations towards the end of January 2014.

For more information on the Canadian Olympic Team, please contactLuc Beaudin, Coordinator, Communications and Media Relations, at 514-206-6720, or at lbeaudin@olympic.ca.

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