TORONTO (May 24 , 2016) – On Tuesday, the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and the Canadian Fencing Federation (CFF) named the five athletes nominated to represent Team Canada in fencing at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games from August 5 to 21.

The five athletes selected include: Maxime Brinck-Croteau (men's épée), Eleanor Harvey (women's foil), Leonora Mackinnon (women's épée), Joseph Polossifakis (men's sabre) and Maximilien Van Haaster (men's foil). The athletes are coached by Paul ApSimon (women's foil), David Howes (women's épée), Benjamin Manano (men's sabre) and Henri Sassine (men's foil).

The athletes earned their spots directly through the International Fencing Federation's individual Olympic qualification process, which took into account points earned at World Championships, zonal Championships, Grand Prix events, World Cups and Satellite tournaments from April 3, 2015 to April 4, 2016. All five of the qualified athletes earned one of the top-two Pan American zone berths in their respective disciplines at the end of the qualification period.

The Olympic fencing competition will take place at the Carioca Arena 3, August 6-14, with Canada's five qualified athletes competing in the following individual events: women's épée, men's foil, men's épée, women's foil and men’s sabre.

At Rio 2016, Canada will field a team of more than 315 athletes.

The Canadian Fencing Federation (CFF) is the sport governing body for fencing in Canada and its vision is to ignite passion for fencing by enabling best performances by all members at all levels.

QUOTES

“Ever since I started fencing when I was 10, my goal has always been to go to the Olympics. It is still surreal that after this crazy long qualification season, I accomplished my goal and am really excited to see how the actual event goes! It is a bit bitter sweet because if women's team foil was an Olympic event this year, my entire team would have qualified and it would have been really awesome for us to go all together. We will keep working hard to hopefully qualify together in 2020!”  

Eleanor Harvey, Rio 2016 athlete

“With the qualification done, and now all the preparation to set up leading to Rio, I did not realize yet what happened! I still don’t really know how it feels to qualify for the Games and to have achieved my life's dream. Right now I am focused 100 per cent on my preparation to be able to represent Canada with the best I can be. I’ll probably realize it when I’m at the airport or at the Opening Ceremony.”

Maxime Brinck-Croteau, Rio 2016 athlete

“I’m a huge fan of our fencers and I look forward to seeing them up against the best in the world in Rio. Congratulations to everyone on the nomination and I look forward to seeing you compete in Rio. En garde!”

Curt Harnett, Rio 2016 Team Canada Chef de Mission

“We are extremely proud of our five athletes who have qualified for Rio. Several of them were junior-aged athletes at the time of the last Games in 2012 and they have progressed very quickly to earn their spots for Rio. Anything is possible and the future looks very bright for these athletes.”

Monica Peterson, CFF High Performance Manager, 2012 Olympian

“I want to wish the best of luck to the fencers who will proudly represent our country at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. I would like to thank the coaches and family members who have supported and encouraged these athletes along their path to their Olympic moment for Canada.”

The Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities

The fencing team which will represent Canada at the Rio 2016 includes:

Athletes:

Coaches:

Prior to being named to the final Canadian Rio 2016 Team, all nominations are subject to approval by the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Team Selection Committee following its receipt of nominations by all National Sport Federations.

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For more information:

Canadian Fencing Federation

Caroline Sharp, Executive Director
Tel: 613-323-5605
Email: ed@fencing.ca

Canadian Olympic Committee

Cherry Ye, Program Manager, Media Relations

Tel: 416-324-4123 / Cell: 416-427-4341

Email: cye@olympic.ca 

Ricky Landry, Manager, Corporate Communications

Tel: 514-861-3696 / Cell: 514-229-4833

Email: rlandry@olympic.ca