NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Release Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development 2012CSCD0069-001151 Aug. 12, 2012

B.C. athletes big contributors to Canadian medal total

VICTORIA – -connected athletes excelled at the 2012 Olympic Summer Games. They brought in half of the nation’s total medal haul and substantially increased the percentage of medals won by B.C-connected athletes.

Of ’s 18 medals, athletes who are either from B.C., or train in the province, earned nine, including six bronze and three silver. At the 2008 Olympic Summer Games, B.C. athletes won 39 per cent of Canadian medals. At the Athens 2004 Olympic Summer Games, B.C. won 25 per cent, and at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Summer Games, B.C. earned 21 per cent of Canada’s total medal count.

B.C.’s medal winners were (in chronological order of achievement):

Christine Girard, White Rock (Rouyn-Norand, Que.) – weighlifting – women’s 63-kg – bronze. Men’s team – silver. Brent Hayden, (Mission) – swimming – men’s 100-metre freestyle – bronze. Women’s eight rowing team – silver. Ryan Cochrane, Victoria – swimming – men’s 1,500-metre freestyle – silver. Women’s team pursuit – cycling, track – bronze. Carol Huynh, Hazelton – wrestling – women’s 48-kg freestyle – bronze. Women’s soccer team – bronze. Richard Weinberger, Victoria (Surrey) – swimming – open water 10-km – bronze.

B.C. sent 110 athletes to the Games to compete in 22 sports. The British Columbia contingent accounted for 40 per cent of the Canadian Olympic Team. Of those athletes, 67 were born and raised in B.C.; the other 43 received substantial training and support through the B.C. sport system.

B.C. also sent 52 coaches, officials, technical staff, and medical and support team members to the Games.

B.C. soccer star , who captured the hearts of during the Games, represented Canada as flag-bearer for the closing ceremony. Victoria’s Simon Whitfield did the honours during the opening ceremony.

Quotes: Ida Chong, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development – “B.C. athletes were simply spectacular at the London Games, winning 50 per cent of Canada’s total medal haul. Our athletes’ success has firmly established British Columbia as an ideal location for training and has impressed and inspired an entire province. In addition, many athletes achieved new personal bests. On behalf of Premier Christy Clark and the B.C. government, I congratulate you all.”

Wendy Pattenden, CEO, Canadian Sport Centre Pacific – “B.C.-based athletes performed with courage, determination and pride at the London 2012 Olympic Summer Games. I am proud of the CSC Pacific team of sport science professionals who work together with the athletes, coaches and our sport partners to help B.C.-based athletes bring home 50 per cent of Canada’s medals.”

Quick Facts: 50 per cent of Team Canada’s Olympic medals in 2012 were won by B.C.-based athletes. This represents an 11 per cent increase from the Beijing 2008 Olympic Summer Games. 40 per cent of the 277 athletes who represented Canada in London are either born and/or train in B.C. 27 per cent of the 96 Canadian Olympic coaches and technical staff are from B.C. 31 per cent of the 36 Canadian Olympic medical support staff are from B.C. 19 per cent of the 43 Canadian international competition officials are from B.C. The Canadian Paralympic Committee will name the Canadian Paralympic Team on Tuesday, Aug. 14.

Learn More:

B.C. Olympic results: http://www.cscpacific.ca/content/MediaCentre/Events/2012OlympicGames.asp London 2012: http://www.london2012.com/

A backgrounder follows.

Contacts: Jeff Rud Scott Allen Communications Director Manager, Communications and Ministry of Community, Sport and Community Engagement Cultural Development Canadian Sport Centre Pacific 250 208-4028 (cell) 778 327-4096 604 730-9625 (cell) [email protected]

Connect with the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/connect

BACKGROUNDER

B.C. medallists at London 2012 Olympic Summer Games (in chronological order of achievement)

Medal Sport Athlete, Hometown (Training Town)

Bronze Weightlifting - Women’s 63-kg, Christine Girard, Rouyn-Norand, Que. (White Rock)

Silver Men’s eight rowing (coxswain), Belleville, Ont. (Victoria) Will Crothers, Kingston, Ont. (Victoria) Rob Gibson, Kingston, Ont. (Victoria) , , Ont. (Victoria) , Victoria Conlin McCabe, Brockville, Ont. (Victoria) , Cobourg, Ont. (Victoria) Doug Csima, Oakville, Ont. (Victoria) Gabe Bergen, 100 Mile House (Victoria)

Bronze Swimming - Men’s 100-metre freestyle Brent Hayden, Mission (Vancouver)

Silver Women’s eight rowing Lesley Thomson-Willie (coxswain), London, Ont. (Fanshawe Lake, Ont.) Andreanne Morin, , Que. (Fanshawe Lake) Ashley Brzozowicz, London, Ont. (Fanshawe Lake) Rachelle Viinberg, Regina, Sask. (Fanshawe Lake) Natalie Mastracci, Thorold, Ont. (Fanshawe Lake) Janine Hanson , , Man. (Fanshawe Lake) Darcy Marquardt, Richmond (Fanshawe Lake) Krista Guloien, Port Moody (Fanshawe Lake) Lauren Wilkinson, North Vancouver (Fanshawe Lake)

Silver Swimming - Men’s 1,500-metre freestyle Ryan Cochrane, Victoria

Bronze Women’s team pursuit Gillian Carleton, Victoria Jasmin Glaesser, Coquitlam Tara Whitten, , Alta.

Bronze Wrestling - Women’s 48-kg freestyle Carol Huynh, Hazelton (, Alta.)

Bronze Women’s soccer Brittany Timko , Coquitlam (Vancouver) , Ajax, Ont. (Vancouver) , Mississauga, Ont. (Vancouver) , The Pas, Man. (Vancouver) Christine Sinclair, Burnaby (Vancouver) , Winnipeg, Man. (Vancouver) , Oakville, Ont. (Vancouver) , Crofton (Vancouver) Erin McLeod, Edmonton, Alta. (Vancouver) , Mississauga, Ont. (Vancouver) Karina LeBlanc , Maple Ridge (Vancouver) , Saskatoon, Sask. (Vancouver) , Saskatoon, Sask. (Vancouver) , Green Bay, Wis. (Vancouver) , Ancaster, Ont. (Vancouver) , Pointe-Claire, Que. (Vancouver) , Toronto, Ont. (Vancouver) , Abbotsford (Vancouver)

Bronze Swimming - Open water, 10-km Richard Weinberger, Victoria