MONTREAL – The opportunity to train in an environment tailored to enhance their abilities has prompted several athletes with the goal of competing at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics to join the Para-Swimming Intensive Training Program – Quebec.

The list includes Tess Routliffe of Caledon, Ont., and Nathan Clement of West Vancouver, B.C., who both will compete at the 2016 Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Also making the decision to join the PSITPQ are Zack Zona of Waterford, Ont., and Camille Bérubé, of Gatineau, Que., two members of Canada’s Toronto 2015 Parapan Am Games team. Also committing to the program is Danielle Kisser of Delta, B.C. Kisser didn’t compete at the Parapan AM trials after undergoing a double-leg osteotomy.

Jean-Michel Lavallière of Montreal, who also swam at the 2015 Parapan Am Games, is returning to the program.

The PSITPQ, which opened in Montreal in September 2015, is coached by Mike Thompson and is the only high-performance centralized training program in Canada designed for Para-swimming. The centre is a partnership between Swimming Canada, the Canadian Paralympic Committee, Own The Podium, Federation Natation du Quebec and the University du Montreal. It is a resident sport at the Institut national du sport Québec in Montreal. This unique environment allows for an individual focus on each athlete and access to sport science and sport medicine support for swimmers, which are not always available at the club level in Canada.

Benoit Huot of Longueuil, Que., a five-time Paralympian, and Isaac Bouckley of Montreal, who both will compete in Rio, currently train at the PSITPQ with Thompson.

“Swimming Canada is excited to see the interest in the PSITPQ for the 2016-2017 season and the list of incoming athletes will benefit immensely from the access to support and the coaching available by Mike Thompson at the program,” said James Hood, Swimming Canada’s senior manager, high performance Para-swimming programs.

“I am very excited that what we’re doing in Montreal is catching the interest of world class Para-athletes,” said Thompson. “I’ve worked hard to build this program and with the help of Swimming Canada, INS, CPC, OTP and FNQ, we have a growing group of world class athletes descending on Montreal to concentrate on excellence and high performance. I’m thrilled to be working with these talented men and women!”

Hood said this core group of athletes will provide an incredible nucleus for Canada’s Para-swimming teams moving forward in to the next quadrennial to Tokyo.

“Each and every one of these swimmers have the ability to be a medal contender on the world stage,” said Hood. “The additional support and individualized programs available from the PSITPQ will contribute to podium performances.”

See the attached bios of swimmers attending the PSITP Quebec 2016-2017:

CAMILLE BÉRUBÉ
Born: 1995-05-21
Hometown: Gatineau, Que.
Current Club: University of Ottawa Gee Gees/Greater Ottawa Kingfish Swim Club
Sport Class: S8SB7SM8
Medals: Won three medals at the 2015 Toronto Parapan Am Games. Silver in the 100-m backstroke, and bronze in both the 200-m IM and 100-m breaststroke.
Records: Holds Canadian records in the 50-m, 100-m and 200-m backstroke, 400-m IM

NATHAN CLEMENT
Born: 1994-09-30
Hometown: West Vancouver, B.C.
Current Club: West Vancouver Otters
Sport Class: S7SB7SM7
Medals: Won bronze in the 50-m butterfly at the 2015 Toronto Parapan Am Games.
Paralympics: Will compete in his first Paralympics in Rio.

DANIELLE KISSER
Born: 1996-12-22
Hometown: Burnaby, B.C.
Current Club: Delta Sungod Swim Club
Sport Class: S6SB6SM6
Medals: Won bronze in 100-m breaststroke at 2011 Parapan Am Games
Records: Holds Canadian records in 50-m freestyle, 400-m freestyle, 100-m backstroke, 100-m breaststroke, 200-m breaststroke, 50-m butterfly, 200-m individual medley.

TESS ROUTLIFFE
Born: 1998-09-28
Hometown: Caledon, Ont.
Current Club: Dorado Stars Swim Club
Sport Class: S7SB7SM7
Medals: Won silver in 200-m individual medley at 2015 IPC Swimming World Championships. At 2015 Toronto Parapan Am Games won gold in the 50-m freestyle, 100-m freestyle, 100-m breaststroke and 100-m backstroke, silver in 200-m individual medley.
Records: Holds Canadian records in 100-m freestyle, 50-m breaststroke, 100-m breaststroke, 200-m breaststroke.
Paralympics: Will compete in her first Paralympics in Rio.

ZACH ZONA
Born: 1998-12-27
Hometown: Waterford, Ont.
Current Club: Norfolk Hammerheads Aquatic Club
Sport Class: S8SB7SM8
Medals: Won bronze in the 400-m freestyle, 100-m butterfly and 200-m individual medley at the 2015 Toronto Parapan Am Games. Also was a member of the 4×100-m 34 pt. freestyle relay that won silver and set a Canadian record.
Records: 1,500-m freestyle, 200-m butterfly

Current PSITP Quebec Members include:

ISAAC BOUCKLEY
Born: 1994-04-18
Hometown: Oshawa, Ont.
Current Club: PSITPQ/Natation Para-Performance
Sport Class: S10SB9SSM10
Medals: Won silver in the 100-m breaststroke and bronze in 400-m freestyle at 2015 Toronto Parapan Am Games.
Paralympics: Will compete in second Paralympics in Rio. Competed in six events at 2012 Paralympics, reaching the finals in the 400-m freestyle and 200-m IM

BENOIT HUOT
Born: 1984-01-24
Hometown: Longueuil, Que.
Current Club: PSITPQ/Club Natation St-Jérôme
Sport Class: S10SB9SM10
Medals: Won 19 medals, including nine gold, at four Paralympics.
Records: Holds Canadian records in 800-m freestyle, 50-m backstroke, 100-m backstroke, 200-m backstroke, 200-m individual medley, 400-m individual medley.
Paralympics: Competed in 2000 in Sydney, 2004 in Athens, 2008 in Beijing, 2012 in London.

JEAN-MICHEL LAVALLIÈRE (returning to the program 2016-2017)
Born: 1990-12-10
Hometown: Québec City, QC
Current Club: PSITPQ/Club Natation St-Jérôme
Sport Class: S7SB7SM7
Medals: Won four individual and two relay silver medals at the 2015 Toronto Parapan Am Games. Was second in the 50-m freestyle, 200-m IM, 100-m freestyle, 50-m butterfly, 4×100-m 34 pt freestyle relay and 4×100 34 pt medley relay.
Records: Holds Canadian records in 50-m backstroke, 100-m backstroke, 50-m breaststroke, 100-m breaststroke, 50-m butterfly, 100-m butterfly, 200-m butterfly, 200-m individual medley.