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Swimming Canada Para-swimmers Nominated for Rio 2016

Olympic and Para-swimming Trials –

TORONTO – World champion and world record holder Aurelie Rivard and 19-time Paralympic medallist Benoit Huot are among the Swimming Canada nominees for the 2016 Paralympic swim team.

The 22-member lineup will be nominated to the Canadian Paralympic Committee. The team that will compete at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro will be officially announced at a July 14 event in Ottawa.

Huot of the Para-swimming Intensive Training Centre – Quebec will be competing in his fifth Paralympic Games. The winner of nine Paralympic titles, he was Canada’s flag bearer for the London Paralympics closing ceremonies.

“I’m just so privileged and lucky,” said Huot. “After all these years, to live my passion and be in love with my sport, is so unique.

“I’m just so privileged and lucky,” said Huot. “After all these years, to live my passion and be in love with my sport, is so unique.” – Benoit Huot

“Many athletes don’t even have one chance to compete at a Paralympics. I’m going to live it for the fifth time. There are no words. I’m really embracing the moment. I want to enjoy every minute of it and have the time of my life.”

Rivard, of the Club Natation de Haute Richelieu, won a silver medal at her first Paralympics in London. She is the reigning world champion in the 50-metre freestyle and 400-metre freestyle and world record holder in the 100-metre freestyle.

Among the athletes attending their first Paralympics will be Abi Tripp of the Kingston Y Penguins Aquatic Club.

“It’s a dream that so many people have,” said Tripp. “Getting the opportunity to live it is a not-even-on-this-earth experience.”

Craig McCord will be the team’s head coach for his fourth Paralympics.

The athletes earned their spots at the 2016 Olympic & Para-swimming Trials, presented by RBC, which were held Tuesday to Sunday.

The Paralympic Games will be held Sept. 7-18.

First Name Last Name Club (incl. HPC) Coach of Record Hometown
Morgan Bird Cascade Swim Club Johnson, Wendy Calgary , AB
Isaac Bouckley Natation Para-Performance/PSITPQ Thompson, Mike Port Hope, ON
Nathan Clement West Vancouver Otters Swim Club Ng, Norman West Vancouver, BC
Tammy Cunnington Red Deer Catalina Swim Club Smith, Mandi Red Deer, AB
Jonathan Dieleman Richmond Rapids Pettifer, Robert Telwa, BC
Danielle Dorris Club Natation Bleu et Or Allen, Ryan Moncton, NB
Sabrina Duchesne Rouge et Or Université Laval Girardin, Johanne St-augustin, QC
Alec Elliot Region of Waterloo Witolla, Hans Kitchener, ON
Devin Gotell London Aquatic Club Craven, Andrew Antigonish, NS
Benoit Huot Neptune / PSITPQ Thompson, Mike Longeueil, QC
Nydia Langill DUCKS Swimming Chappel, Reg Mississauga, ON
James Leroux Club de Natation Torpille Bruggeman Jérémy Repentigny, QC
Sarah Mehain McGill University / CNHR Carpenter, Peter Vernon, BC
Gordie Michie St. Thomas Jumbo Jets Bosma, Penny St. Thomas, ON
Tyler Mrak Surrey knights Swim Club Shaw, Reg Surrey, BC
Aurélie Rivard CNHR Latendresse, France St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC
Tess Routliffe Dorado Stars Swim Club Desjardins, Courtney Caledon, ON
Katarina Roxon Aqua Aces Swim Club Roxon, Leonard Kippens, NF
Samantha Ryan Saskatoon Goldfin Swim Club Hitchings, Steven Saskatoon, ON
Nathan Stein Surrey knights Swim Club Shaw, Reg Maple Ridge, BC
Abi Tripp Kingston Y Penguins Keith, Vicki Kingston, ON
Nicolas Turbide Club Natation Region de Quebec Pelletier, Marc-André Québec, QC
France Latendresse Head Coach, CNHR
Craig McCord National Para-swimming Coach
Vince Mikuska Para-swimming Performance Coach
Mike Thompson Head Coach, PSITPQ