THE CANADIAN WEIGHTLIFTING FEDERATION NOMINATES 14 ATHLETES TO THE GLASGOW 2014 CANADIAN TEAM

Canada has a tradition of excellence in weightlifting, a core sport on the Commonwealth Games programme since Auckland 1950

June 24, 2014, Ottawa – The Canadian Weightlifting Federation and Commonwealth Games Canada (CGC) today confirmed the 14 athletes and two coaches to be named to Team Canada for the XXth Commonwealth Games in Glasgow Scotland this July.

The weightlifting team is solid with Commonwealth Games experience, with eight members of the team, including the coaches, having competed at a previous Commonwealth Games.

Marie-Eve Beauchemin-Nadeau claimed silver in 75KG at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and then made her Olympic Games debut in 2012 and competed in the 69KG weightlifting division winning Group B to finish in eighth place. Marie-Josée Arès-Pilon will also be making her second apearance at a Commonwealth Games as she competed at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi finishing just out of the medals.

For the men, returning to Commonwealth Games competition are Olympian (2008) Francis Luna-Grenier who competed at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Joining him are 2010 Commonwealth Games bronze medalists Mathieu Marineau (85KG) and George Kobaladze (+105KG) as well as Delhi 2010 team mate Parminder Phangura.

This team ripe with Commonwealth Games experience is also coached by two former Commonwealth Games athletes. Gilles Poirier competed at the 1986 Commonwealth Games and Guy Marineau competed at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

“In all, Canada has won 92 medals in weightlifting at the Commonwealth Games,” says Team Canada Chef de Mission, Chantal Petitclerc. “With this rich history at the Games, as well as the experience of the team members, we expect a strong showing in Glasgow.”

The Canadian Weightlifting Federation also anticipates great results coming out of Glasgow.

“Based upon the current Commonwealth ranking, Canada is expected to win six medals in weightlifting”, said Paul Barrett, President of the Canadian Weightlifting Federation. “This could increase by one or two depending on the performance of our athletes. The level of competition will be intense, and will serve as an important step in our preparation for the 2015 Pan American Games and ultimately the Olympic Games in Rio.”

Athletes and coaches nominated by the Canadian Weightlifting Federation to Team Canada for the 2014 Commonwealth Games were selected include:
 

  • Jessica Ruel, 23, 52KG, Rouyn-Noranda, QC. A Université du Québec student, Ruel, is a two-time senior national champion (2012, 2013) and a four-time junior national champion (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011).
  • Isabelle Després, 33, 58KG, Moncton, NB. Després currently lives in Ottawa training out of the Ottawa Elite Weightlifting Club. Després is a 2013 national champion, silver (2011) and bronze (2010) medalist.
  • Marie-Julie Malboeuf, 19, 58KG, Repentigny, QC. Malboeuf is a student at the Cégep régional de Lanaudière à l’Assomption, QC. She finished top-ten at the 2013 Junior World Championships.
  • Marie-Josée Arès-Pilon, 32, 69KG, Edmonton, AB. Arès-Pilon competed at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi finishing just out of the medals. She is the 2005 National Champion and three-time Canadian National Bronze Medalist (2006, 2011, 2012).
  • Kristel Ngarlem, 19, 69KG, Montréal, QC. A student at the Collège Ahuntsic in Montréal, QC,  Ngarlem is a four-time Junior National Champion (2010, 2012, 2013, 2014) and three-time Canadian national silver medallist (2011, 2012, 2013).
  • Marie-Ève Beauchemin-Nadeau, 25, 75KG, Montréal, QC. Marie-Eve Beauchemin-Nadeau claimed silver at 75 kg at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and made her Olympic Games debut in 2012, competing in the 69KG Weightlifting division. A 2011, 2012 and 2013 National Champion, Beauchemin-Nadeau competed at the World Championships (2009, 2010, 2011).
  • Francis Luna-Grenier, 27, 69KG, Montréal, QC. Luna-Grenier finished 17th at the Olympic Games in 2008. He is an eight-time Canadian Senior Champion (2003, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014).
  • Jean-Marc Béland, 30, 77KG, Greenfield Park, QC. Living in Varennes, QC, Béland finished top-ten at the 2009 Pan-American Championships. Béland was the canadian champion in 2010.
  • François Valiquette, 19, 77KG, Laval, QC. A student at the Cégep de Saint-Jérôme in QC, Valiquette lives in Lachute and is a 2011 Canadian Junior Silver Medalist.
  • Pascal Plamondon, 21, 85KG, Sherbrooke, QC. An athlete with the Atlas Club in Sherbrooke Quebec, Plamondon is the 2012 Canadian Champion at the junior and senior levels.
  • Mathieu Marineau, 23, 85KG, St-Jérôme, QC. Marineau was a 2010 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist in Delhi. He also won a gold medal at the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, India. He finished top-five at the 2011 Pan-Am Games and is a two-time National Junior Champion (2009, 2010) and a three-time Senior National Champion (2013, 2012, 2011).
  • David Samayoa, 22, 94KG, Regina, SK. A Regina Weightlifting Club member, Samayoa works as a plumber. A 2013 Canadian Silver Medalist, the Regina resident’s personal best is 320KG.
  • George Kobaladze, 38, +105KG, Tskhinvali, GEO. Kobaladze competed for Canada at the 2010 Commonwealth Games winning a bronze medal. He also won a bronze medal at the 2011 Pan-American Games in Mexico. He is a six-time Canadian Champion (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013).
  • Parminder Phangura, 34, +105KG, Vancouver, BC. Phangura competed at the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games and is a three-time Canadian Champion (2002, 2003, 2007) and World Championships’ competitor.

Coaches

  • Gilles Poirier, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC. Poirier has been a coach for the past 26 years. Career highlights include coaching at the World Championships (2011, 2013), the 1995 Pan-American Games, the Junior World Championships (1994, 1996) and the 2012 Pan-American Championships. Before coaching, as an athlete Poirier competed at the 1986 Commonwealth Games and was a Pan-American Games Bronze Medalist (1983).
  • Guy Marineau, Sherbrooke, QC. As an athlete, Marineau competed at the 2002 Commonwealth Games and the 1999 World Championships. A coach with the National Team since 2007, Marineau was a coaching team member at the 2012 Olympic Games, the Senior World Championships (2010, 2011, 2013), Junior World Championships (2007, 2008, 2010, 2012) and the Pan-American Championships (2009, 2012).

The Team Leader of the weightlifting team will be the General Secretary of the CWFHC, Yan Jubinville, who has an extensive background in weightlifting, having represented Canada internationally at the Junior and Senior levels.

“Bravo to all our weightlifters who have been named to Team Canada for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games,” said the Honourable Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport). “You are an enormous source of pride for all Canadians, and we will be encouraging you every step of the way.”

The results of the 2014 Canadian Championships may be found on the Canadian Weightlifting Federation (CWFHC) website.

The Canadian Team is expected to be comprised of 267 athletes, Canada’s largest team ever fielded for a non-home Games.  The entire Canadian Team will be officially named by Commonwealth Games Canada in July 2014.

The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games will be held from July 23rd to August 3rd, 2014, and will be the largest ever multi-sport event held on Scottish soil.

ABOUT The Canadian Weightlifting Federation

The Canadian Weightlifting Federation is dedicated to the promotion and development of Olympic Weightlifting in Canada. We will do so in a spirit of equity and fair play, while at the same time encouraging a fit for life philosophy.

ABOUT COMMONWEALTH GAMES CANADA

Commonwealth Games Canada (CGC) is the international franchise holder for the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth movement in Canada, and an active, contributing member of the Canadian sport community. The mission of CGC is to strengthen sport within Canada and throughout the Commonwealth by participating in the Commonwealth Games and by using sport as a development tool. Visit www.commonwealthgames.ca for information.

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For interview requests:

Augustin Brassard
Director
Fédération d'Haltérophilie du Québec
abrassard@fedhaltero.qc.ca

For additional information on the Glasgow 2014 Canadian Team or CGC:

Sylvie Bigras
Communications Chief
Team Canada - Glasgow 2014
613 298 1625
sylvie@magma.ca
@cgc_jcc #Glasgow2014