The Olympics opening ceremonies are wrapping up in Paris this afternoon, and five young Islanders are now waiting to compete.
Ethan Katzberg from Nanaimo will be competing in the hammer throw, he was the youngest man in the world to win the world championship last year.
Olivia Lundman from Lantzville will be competing in the race walk event, in her 2022 rookie season with UBC’s track and field team she broke a 35-year-old record.
Sanoa Dempfle-Olin from Tofino will be the first Canadian to compete in an Olympic surfing event. Last year she won silver at the Pan-Am Games in Chile in women’s shortboard.
Cameron Levins from Campbell River is a record-breaking marathon runner, he has previously competed in the London and Tokyo Olympics.
Avalon Wasteneys from Campbell River won gold at the Tokyo Olympics as part of the women’s eight rowing team, and is hoping for a repeat.
Team Canada Facts
- Team Canada includes 338 athletes from across the country.
- The team’s oldest athlete is 61-year-old equestrian rider Jill Irving.
- The team’s youngest athlete is 14-year-old skateboarder Fay De Fazio Ebert.
- The most experienced team member is table tennis player Mo Zhang, this is her fifth consecutive games.
- There are 10 athletes whose parents are past Olympians, including Campbell River’s Avalon Wasteneys.
- Of the 142 returning athletes, 39 are previous medal-winners.
- There are 45 team members from British Columbia.
Visit the Team Canada website to see which Canadian athletes are competing today.
