The majority of future Olympians cut their teeth at the Canada Games, a trend Richmond athletes are likely to continue at the 2013 Summer Games beginning Friday in Sherbrooke, Que.
Some have already enjoyed considerable international success, including fencers Dylan French and Shaul Gordon. Both members of the local Dynamo Fencing Club, French was 13th at last year?s under-17 world championships while Gordon placed sixth at the world juniors last April in Croatia.
High jumper Emma Kimoto is the current National Collegiate Athletic Association?s Big 10 Conference indoor and outdoor champion and an academic all-star at Indiana University. And Luke Reilly, who under the guidance of his University of B.C. Dolphins? coach Brian Johns (a three-time Olympian also from Richmond) is part of Swimming Canada?s development team.
The talent pool continues with rower Colin Schaap, who competes for Northeast University and in 2011 was part of Canada?s men?s four that placed eighth at the 2011 world junior championship. Hillary Strelau had the highest batting average in the Northwest college women?s softball league in her freshman season at Douglas College. And Magnus Batara won nine gold medals in swimming at the B.C. Summer Games in 2012.
Kristen Almhjell is a talented R.A. McMath graduate who aspires to play for Canada?s national women?s volleyball team; Yasmin Bains, a second-year women?s softball player at University of B.C. is an all-Canadian student athlete; and Kelly Jackson, UBC freshman rower of the year in 2012? and a member of the dean?s list, is following in the footsteps of her brother who competed in the Canada Summer Games in 2009.
Keeping with the family theme, Roberts, who?ll tend goal for Team B.C.?s men?s soccer team, is from an extended athletic family. His great uncle Roger Roberts competed for Britain as a swimmer at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City and held several British records.
Richmond?s contribution to the 360-athlete Team B.C. is further extended by Justin Turner-Pearce who?ll play fullback for the men?s soccer team; Sofya Romashina, a foilist on the fencing team; and Haolong Fan competing in tennis. There are also three locals on the Team BC coaching staff: Jon Acob (basketball), Grant Brehaut (diving) and Victor Gantsevich (fencing).
The Canada Games (through Aug. 17) is a provincial/territorial competition for athletes aged 22 and under.
Source: http://www.richmondreview.com/sports/218003141.html
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