Canadian Roundup: Medal hauls, Olympic berths and a world title
Canadians had a busy long weekend from hauling 26 canoe and kayak medals at the Olympic qualifier, to reaching podiums on the world stage.
Canada also officially said goodbye to the 2016 winter sport season, with a worlds title in men’s hockey.
Canoe-Kayak – Sprint
Read: Van Koeverden heading to Rio
Adam van Koeverden in action at Toronto 2015 Pan American Games on July 13, 2015.
Canada capped of the Pan Am Sprint Canoe Championships & Olympic Qualifier at Lake Lanier in Gainesville with a total of 26 medals. While Canada earned several spots in canoe-kayak events at Rio 2016, Adam van Koeverden was the only athlete to clinch an Olympic berth, after winning the men’s K1 1000m.
Beach Volleyball
Read: Binstock and Schachter win beach world tour silver
Josh Binstock (left) and Sam Schachter with their silver medal at the Cincinnati Open on May 21, 2016 (Photo: FIVB).
Josh Binstock and Sam Schachter made their first FIVB medal of the season a silver, at the Cincinnati Open on Saturday. The pair upset the competition beating the number two seeded team from the USA in the semifinals, before taking on Brazilians Gustavo (Guto) Carvalhaes and Saymon Barbosa in the final where they fell 22-20, 21-8.
Cycling – Mountain Bike
Read: Pendrel places third at mountain bike World Cup in Albstadt
Catharine Pendrel raced to a bronze medal on the second stop of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup circuit. The Canadian’s time of one hour, 34 minutes and 39 seconds not only secured third in Abstadt, but moved Pendrel into the same position in overall world cup rankings.
Hockey
Read: Canada wins hockey worlds | Perry joins ‘triple gold club’
Canadian players celebrate winning gold at IIHF worlds final over Finland on May 22, 2016.
Canada grabbed its final 2016 world championship title in a winter sport, as men’s hockey defended its gold medal on Sunday in Russia. The team beat Finland 4-2 in the final, despite losing to the nation 4-0 in the preliminary round. Team captain and Olympian Corey Perry also became Canada’s newest member of the triple gold club, which feature players who’ve won a Stanley Cup, Olympic gold and an IIHF World Championship.
Athletics
Johnathan Cabrel finished fifth at the Rabat Diamond League, after running 13.42 seconds in 110 metre hurdles. Canada’s leading 400mh, Sage Watson smashed her personal best twice over the weekend, her new time of 54.82s is well under the Olympic standard. Shot putter Brittany Crew (17.84m) and 5,000m runner Andrea Seccafien (15 minutes 17.81s) also made Olympic standards over the weekend.
Boxing
Related: 5-0 at women’s world championships; a first for Canada
Canadian boxers fought for a ticket to Rio 2016 at the Women’s World Championships in Astana. Catherine Veyre (60kg) one of Canada strongest contenders for an Olympic spot, lost a crucial bout on Monday against France’s Estelle Mossely. Canadians Kim Clavel (48kg) and Sara Kali (64kg) will advance to Tuesday’s quarterfinals.
Tennis
Read: Raonic wins French Open first round over Tipsarevic
Milos Raonic at the French Open opening round on May 23, 2016.
Milos Raonic began the French Open winning straight sets against Serbia’s Janko Tipsarevic. The Canadian won 6-3, 6-2, 7-6(5) on Monday after the match was pushed back a day due to rain.
Sailing
Tom Ramshaw (SLYC) qualified for the Games this summer in the one-person dinghy (heavyweight) Finn class following his eighth place finish at the Finn Gold Cup in Gaeta, Italy.
