Former and current York University athletes are competing for Team Canada during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Brittany Crew
Daniel Nestor
Named to Team Canada are Lions thrower Brittany Crew, Lions boxer Arthur Biyarslanov, former Lions sprinter Khamica Bingham, former Lions taekwondo competitor Melissa Pagnotta and honorary degree recipient and tennis player Daniel Nestor.
The athletes were among the 65 athletes nominated by the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and Athletics Canada to represent Team Canada at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Khamica Bingham
Arthur Biyarslanov
Crew and Bingham earned their spots at the Canadian Championships and Rio Selection Trials, which took place July 7 to 10 at Foote Field in Edmonton.
“Following a very competitive trials in Edmonton, we have nominated a versatile and focused group of athletes who will be ready to perform on-demand in Rio,” said Peter Eriksson, head coach of Athletics Canada. “The team is comprised of veterans who have already experienced international success and up-and-coming athletes who are ready to take the next step.”
Biyarslanov earned his spot at the 2016 AOB American Olympic Qualification Event, which ran March 11 to 19 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Pagnotta, who will compete in the women’s under-67kg class tomorrow, was named to the team after an Olympic qualifier in March that took place in Mexico; and Nestor will compete in his sixth Olympic Games after being named to Team Canada in July.
Follow news on these athletes using #RioLions. For a full schedule of events, visit olympics.cbc.ca/schedules/overview.html.