The Rio Olympics kicked off Friday night, and if you’re looking for someone to cheer for, a number Manitoba athletes will be competing.
Of the 300 plus Canadian athletes heading to to Rio, Brazil for the Olympics, 11 are from Manitoba. Among then, eight are first time Olympians. There also also three local Paralympic athletes performing.
READ MORE: Rio 2016: 11 interesting facts about the modern Olympic Games
Sarah-Anne Brault
Sport: Triathlon
Games: Rio 2016
Born: December 1, 1989
Height: 171cm
Weight: 65kg
Birthplace: Levis, Quebec
Hometown: Quebec City, Quebec
Biography
Winnipeg-grown, Québécois triathlete Sarah-Anne Brault will make her Olympic debut in Rio. Brault was an alternate to Canada’s triathlon team for the 2012 Olympics. She’s a two-time ITU World Cup medalist and was the junior Pan American Champion in 2008.
Competition Schedule
Friday, Aug. 19: women’s triathlon
Justin Duff
Sport:: Volleyball – indoor
Games: Rio 2016
Born: May 10, 1988
Age: 28
Height: 201cm
Weight: 96kg
Birthplace: Winnipeg, Man.
Hometown: Winnipeg, Man.
Biography
Pro volleyball player and former Wesmen, Justin Duff joins Canada’s first Olympic indoor men’s volleyball team in 24 years. The six-foot-seven middle is a former first team CIS All-Canadian and was chosen as the Wesmen’s athlete of the year in 2010. The now 28-year-old Duff played four seasons with the Wesmen from 2006-2010.
Competition Schedule
Sunday, Aug. 7: qualification (vs USA)
Tuesday, Aug. 9: qualification (vs Brazil)
Thursday, Aug. 11: qualification (vs France)
Saturday, Aug. 13: qualification (vs Mexico)
Monday, Aug. 15: qualification (vs Italy)
Chantal Givens
Sport: Paratriathlon
Games: Rio 2016
Born: June 1, 1978
Age: 38
Height: 185cm
Weight: 79kg
Birthplace: Edmonton, AB.
Hometown: Winnipeg, Man.
Biography
Chantal Givens will make history as a part of Canada’s first paratriathlon team in the inaugural paratriathlon event. She is a three-time Canadian Paratriathlon champion and has placed fourth at the World Championships twice.
Competition Schedule
Sunday, Sept. 11: women’s paratriathlon
Leah Kirchmann
Sport: Cycling – road
Games: Rio 2016
Born: June 30, 1990
Age: 26
Height: 167cm
Weight: 59kg
Birthplace: Winnipeg, Man.
Hometown: Winnipeg, Man.
Biography
The Games will mark Leah Kirchmann’s first Olympics. Kirchmann finished third in the inaugural La course by Le Tour de France in 2014. The following year, she placed second in the road race and third in the time trial at the Canadian championships. Kirchmann won a silver medal in the road race at the 2012 Pan American Championships.
Competition Schedule
Sunday, Aug 7: women’s road cycling
LISTEN: Leah Kirchmann talks with 680 CJOB about competing in her first Olympics
Meghan Montgomery
Sport: Para-rowing
Games: Beijing 2008, London 2013
Born: June 11, 1981
Age: 35
Height: 185cm
Weight: 79kg
Birthplace: Winnipeg, Man.
Hometown: Brandon, Man.
Biography
Meghan Montgomery has emerged from retirement in hopes of capturing Canada’s first Paralympic medal in rowing.
Montgomery competed in the mixed plus event at the Beijing Paralympic Games, and four years later at the London Paralympic Games.
Competition schedule
Not available.
Tyler Mislawchuk
Sport: Triathlon
Games: Rio 2016
Born: August 19, 1994
Age: 21
Height: 172cm
Weight: 59kg
Birthplace: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Hometown: Oak Bluff, Manitoba
Biography
Tyker Mislawchuk represented Canada at the 2015 Pan Am Games in Toronto where he finished 10th. The 21-year-old also had two 10th place finishes this season on the ITU World Triathlon Series. Mislawchuk began competing internationally in 2011.
Competition Schedule
Thursday, Aug 18: men’s triathlon
Leanne Muldrew
Sport: Sitting volleyball
Games: Rio 2016
Born: July 7, 1983
Age: 33
Height: 180 cm
Weight: 86 kg
Birthplace: Winnipeg, Man.
Hometown: Winnipeg, Man.
Biography
Leanne Muldrew returns to the women’s national sitting volleyball team for the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio. Muldrew played for Canada in 2011 and was on the squad that placed third at the London 2012 Paralympic Games qualifier.
Competition Schedule
Friday, Sept 9: tournament begins
Isabela Onyshko
Sport: Gymnastics – artistic
Games: Rio 2016
Born: June 23, 1998
Age: 18
Height: 157cm
Weight: 50kg
Birthplace: Minnedosa, Man.
Hometown: Brandon, Man.
Biography
Isabela Onyshko broke onto the international scene in 2014, winning medals at World Cup events in Croatia and Qatar.
Onyshko represented Canada at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where her team placed fourth and she placed seventh all-around. Onyshko also helped Canada finish 12th at the 2014 World Artistic Gymnastic Championships.
Onyshko placed first in this year’s Elite Canada competition. She also captured a silver medal at the 2015 Pan Am Games in Toronto.
Competition Schedule
Sunday, Aug 7: all-around qualification
Tuesday, Aug 9: all-around (team) Final
Thursday, Aug 11: all-around (individual) Final
Sunday, Aug 14: apparatus finals (vault, uneven bars)
Monday, Aug 15: apparatus final (beam)
Tuesday, Aug 16: apparatus final (floor)
LISTEN: Isabela Onyshko talks with 680 CJOB about representing Canada during the Games
TJ Sanders
Sport: Volleyball – indoor
Games: Rio 2016
Born: December 14, 1991
Age: 24
Height: 191cm
Weight: 81kg
Birthplace: Winnipeg, Man.
Hometown: London, Ont.
Biography
Former Manitoba Bison player, TJ Sanders wwill also be playing in his first Olympics this summer. The 24-year-old was born in Winnipeg but now calls London, Ont., home.
Competition Schedule
Sunday, Aug. 7: qualification (vs USA)
Tuesday, Aug. 9: qualification (vs Brazil)
Thursday, Aug. 11: qualification (vs France)
Saturday, Aug. 13: qualification (vs Mexico)
Monday, Aug. 15: qualification (vs Italy)
Sophie Schmidt
Sport: Football (soccer)
Games: Rio 2016, London 2012, Beijing 2008
Born: June 28, 1988
Age: 28
Height: 173cm
Weight: 70kg
Birthplace: Winnipeg, Man.
Hometown: Abbotsford, BC.
Biography
Sophie Schmidt is a two-time Olympian who was part of Canada’s bronze medal performance at London 2012. Schmidt has competed at three editions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2007, 2011 and 2015. She also won a gold medal with Canada at the 2011 Pan Am Games in Guadalajara. From 2011 to 2015, Schmidt played in 76 consecutive international matches for Canada.
Competition schedule
Wednesday, Aug 3: qualification (vs Australia)
Saturday, Aug 6: qualification (vs Zimbabwe)
Tuesday, Aug 9: qualification (vs Germany)
Desiree Scott
Games: Rio 2016, London 2012
Born: July 31, 1987
Age: 29
Height: 160cm
Weight: 65kg
Birthplace: Winnipeg, Man.
Hometown: Winnipeg, Man.
Biography
Midfielder, Desiree Scott made her Olympic debut in 2012 in London, where Canada finished third. It was the first-ever Olympic medal for Canada’s women’s soccer team.
Scott was born and raised in Winnipeg and was a member of the inaugural women’s soccer team at the University of Manitoba in 2005. She has played professionally since 2006 and is currently a member of FC Kansas City.
Competition schedule
Wednesday, Aug 3: qualification (vs Australia)
Saturday, Aug 6: qualification (vs Zimbabwe)
Tuesday, Aug 9: qualification (vs Germany)
LISTEN: Desiree Scott talks with 680 CJOB about competing in her second summer Olympics
Nicole Sifuentes
Sport: Athletics
Games: Rio 2016, London 2012
Born: June 30, 1986
Age: 30
Height: 177cm
Weight: 55kg
Birthplace: Winnipeg, Man.
Hometown: Winnipeg, Man.
Biography
Nicole Sifuentes competed in the London 2012 Olympics, won a bronze medal at the World Indoor Championships in 2014 and won silver at the 2015 Pan Am Games. She has also competed in two different Commonwealth Games in 2010 and 2014.
Competition schedule
Friday, Aug 12: 1500m heat
Sunday, Aug 14: 1500m semi-final
Tuesday, Aug 16: 1500m final
LISTEN: Nicole Sifuentes talks 680 CJOB about her journey to the 2016 Rio Olympics
Erin Teschuk
Sport: Athletics
Games: Rio 2016
Born: October 25, 1994
Age: 21
Height: 163cm
Weight: 52kg
Birthplace: Winnipeg, Man.
Hometown: Winnipeg, Man.
Biography
Erin Teschuk is competing in her first ever Olympics. The 21-year-old won the national title in the women’s 3000m steeplechase last year. She placed fourth in the event at the 2015 Pan Am Games.
Competition schedule
Saturday, Aug 13: 3000m Sc heat
Monday, Aug 15: 3000m Sc final
Chantal Van Landeghem
Sport: Swimming
Games: Rio 2016
Born: March 5, 1994
Age: 22
Height: 180cm
Weight: 77kg
Birthplace: Winnipeg, Man.
Hometown: Winnipeg, Man.
Biography
Van Landeghem is attending her first Olympics this summer. The former Manta Swim Club member will compete in the in the 4 x 100m women’s freestyle relay, 100m freestyle and 50m freestyle races.
Van Landeghem was recently chosen as the Manitoba Female Athlete of the year after swimming to three medals at the 2015 Pan-American Games.
Competition schedule
Saturday, Aug 6: heat (4x100m relay)
Saturday, Aug 6: final (4x100m relay)
Wednesday, Aug 10: heat (100m free)
Wednesday, Aug 10: semi-final (100m free)
Thursday, Aug 11: final (100m free)
Friday, Aug 12: heat (50 free)
Friday, Aug 12: semi-final (50 free)
Saturday, Aug 13: final (50 free)
LISTEN: Chantal Van Landeghem talks with 680 CJOB about her Olympic debut
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