Need to know, nice to know with Canada’s Biathlon Team
Today Biathlon Canada gave us eight names to watch for in Sochi. The four men and four women who will ski and shoot with the maple leaf on their back are ready to go.
Here’s a need to know and nice to know about each of Canada’s biathlon Olympians. You decide which is which:
Rosanna Crawford
Part of Canada’s 2013 history-making 4 x 6km relay team, finishing fourth along with Megan Imrie, Megan Heinicke and Zina Kocher at a World Cup in Annecy. Earning them!? A roll of cheese.
Older sister Chandra, an Olympic Champion, was a major inspiration for Rosanna.
Megan Imrie
Her Olympic debut was Vancouver 2010.
And she’s a proud Manitoban, with lots of trail experience, on skis and horseback.
Megan grew up on a ranch with 40 horses and used to compete in barrel racing.
Zina Kocher
Sochi 2014 will be her third Olympic Games, (2006, 2010), and she is the most experienced athlete on the women’s team.
Also, she can play the flute, among a ton of other interests.
Megan Heinicke
Canada’s top-ranked female biathlete from Vancouver 2010. She’s aiming for a top 16 finish in Sochi.
Also, has a son named Predo, born in 2010 after the Olympics. And…also plays the flute. Which we guess is a popular instrument on the women’s team.
Photo courtesy: meganheinicke.com
Jean-Philippe Le Guellec
On December 1, 2012 JP became the first Canadian man to win a World Cup medal. And it was gold. That’s making history with style.
Style on video:
Apogee Sports – Biathlon 2012 from Apogee Sports on Vimeo.
Brendan Green
Part of matching Canada’s best finish at the Olympic Winter Games, with a 10th place in men’s 4 x 7.5km at Vancouver 2010.
Oh, and he’s from Hay River, N.W.T. which is here in case you’re interested.
Credit: hayriver.com
Scott Perras
Biathlon Canada’s Male Athlete of the Year in 2012-13. Enough said. Watch this guy in Sochi.
Also, might have one of the best twitter handles on the team.
Nathan Smith
Started out as a cross-country skier, but switched to biathlon because it looked more fun. Can you blame him? The whole rifle thing must have been cool for a 10-year-old.
His role model is Norway’s Ole Einar Bjorndalen, who has won 11 Olympic medals, so a pretty good dude to model yourself after.
