Canada Putting together Strong Team for Sochi 2014

TORONTO – Sports – It was a Western theme in Toronto on Wednesday as the Canadian Olympic Committee welcomed the “Canadian Cowboys” to the Canadian Olympic Team.

The “Canadian Cowboy” are planning to to end a 20-year medal drought for Canada on Olympic soil.

These three athletes will compete against the world’s best as Canada’s representatives in downhill and super-G, carrying some momentum forward from a positive start to the 2013-14 World Cup season. Two-time Olympian, who now holds a Canadian-best 21 career World Cup podium finishes, Erik Guay (Mont-Tremblant, QC) will lead this year’s team into Sochi. He will be joined by two-time Olympian, Manuel Osborne-Paradis (Vancouver, BC) who is also hoping to find Olympic podium success. The trio will also include Vancouver 2010 Olympian, Jan Hudec (Calgary, AB), a World Cup winner and world championship medallist.

“Any time you have the opportunity to represent your country it’s a great honour and privilege,” said Osborne-Paradis. “It’s about putting all your cards on the table on the day of the race and hopefully you get some hardware. Right now we have three guys who have the chance to do that for the Canadian Cowboys. That’s what inspires kids to become champions and work their way up through the system – an Olympic medal would just really top it off.”

Wednesday’s announcement was attended by Lake Placid 1980 Olympic bronze medallist and Canada’s Chef de Mission for Sochi 2014, Steve Podborski, and Ed Podivinsky who earned an Olympic bronze medal at Lillehammer 1994.

Podivinsky is the last Canadian alpine skier to medal at an Olympic Games.

“What a great honour it is to represent Canada at the Olympic Games. I understand and appreciate the dedication and commitment that Erik, Jan and Manuel have for their sport and country,” said Marcel Aubut, President, Canadian Olympic Committee. “There is something truly special about this group of skiers and I look forward to seeing them perform at their highest level in Sochi.”

“Congratulations to our male alpine skiers, who will make us proud in Sochi,” added Costas Menegakis, Member of Parliament, (Richmond Hill). “Your breathtaking speed will captivate Canadians as they cheer for you from every corner of our country. Good luck as you prepare to excel on the slopes in just a few weeks.”

The qualification window for Canadian male and female alpine skiers remains open until Jan. 26, so more men’s team racers could yet join Guay, Osborne-Paradis and Hudec in being nominated to the Canadian Olympic Team. The Canadian men’s speed team is due to leave for Europe Wednesday to compete in several more World Cups prior to the start of the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games.

The Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games will take place from February 7-23, 2014. The Canadian Olympic Team has set a goal to contend for the top spot in overall medals won.

List of male alpine skiers nominated to the Sochi 2014 Canadian Olympic Team:

These Canadian skiers now join 10 speed skating athletes, 10 Curling athletes, 16 bobsledders, seven lugers, four skeleton athletes, 21 women hockey players, eight biathletes, five snowboarders and 25 men hockey players as the next members on the Canadian Olympic Team. Up to 10 more teams will be announced between now and February.