TORONTO (June 28, 2024) – Archery Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee have announced the Team Canada archery athletes nominated to compete at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. These athletes are:
Virginie Chénier (Laval, QC)
Eric Peters (Kitchener, ON)
Peters made Canadian sports history at the 2023 World Archery Championships. He won silver in the men’s recurve event after facing reigning Olympic champion Mete Gazoz of the Turkey in the final. It was Canada’s best result ever in men’s recurve at a World Championships. This podium finish earned Team Canada an Olympic quota spot for Paris 2024.
Most recently, the 27-year-old recorded his best ever world ranking when he finished fifth on June 24, 2024, after taking fifth place at the Archery World Cup in Antalya. , in Turkey. He then equaled his best career result on the circuit, which he had recorded for the first time in April 2023 also in Antalya.
Peters represented Team Canada at two Pan American Games. At Lima 2019, he won two medals, winning gold in the team recurve event with teammates Crispin Duenas and Brian Maxwell, as well as bronze in the individual recurve event. He was also there in Santiago in 2023, where he and Chénier were eliminated in the quarterfinals of the mixed team event, finishing the competition in sixth place. Peters will be at his first Olympic Games at Paris 2024.
“It’s crazy, it’s the culmination of all the work I’ve done and the difficulties I’ve overcome throughout my career. Although it’s just another step in my career, it’s an honor,” says Peters.
Chénier will also be at her first Olympic Games in Paris 2024. The 29-year-old athlete, however, has extensive experience of the Major Games having participated in three editions of the Pan American Games, namely those of Toronto 2015, Lima 2019 and Santiago 2023 She had Canada’s best result in the individual recurve event in Santiago, where she reached the quarterfinals. Chénier competed in an all-Canadian final with Kristine Esebua at the Pan American Continental Qualifiers in April, which helped Canada secure an Olympic berth on the women’s side.
“I’m super excited to have been named to my first Olympic team,” says Chénier. It’s been a lot of hard work and perseverance over the past decade and now it’s paying off. I look forward to proudly wearing the maple leaf and being part of such an amazing team, and also giving everything I have during the competition. »
Having qualified one athlete per gender, Canada will also be able to compete in the mixed team event at Paris 2024. At the Pan American Championships in April, Chénier and Peters won the bronze medal together, dominating Argentina en route to a 6-point victory. -0.
Canada has yet to win an Olympic medal in archery. Canada’s best result at the Olympic Games came in Montreal in 1976, where Lucille Lemay finished fifth in the women’s individual event. The best result in an individual men’s event belongs to Donald Jackson, who finished sixth in Munich in 1972.
“It is a privilege to be able to support Eric and Virginie in their Olympic journey. Not only are they great people, they are also high-quality athletes who have demonstrated their ability to excel on a global scale, says Joe Leszner, who will serve as the team’s mental performance consultant. I can’t wait to be a part of their Olympic experience and help them display the best versions of themselves when it matters most. »
“It is always an honor to represent our country at the Olympic Games,” said national team advisor Ron van der Hoff. With Eric Peters and Virginie Chénier, Team Canada can count on a very talented mixed archery team. I am proud of the magnificent journey they have had over the last few years, which has allowed them to reach the level they are at today. With just a few weeks left to fine-tune their routines, they’re ready to showcase their talent on a global scale! »
The archery competition will take place from July 25 to August 4 (Days 1 to 9) at the Esplanade des Invalides.
“Congratulations to Virginie and Eric for qualifying for their first Olympic Games,” says Bruny Surin, Chef de Mission for Team Canada at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. The precision, skill and endurance required for elite archery is incredible and these two athletes have demonstrated that they have what it takes. We will encourage them on the emblematic site of Les Invalides so that Virginie and Eric reach their targets in Paris! »
The Team Canada archery team for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games also includes the following support staff:
Ron Van der Hoff (Ysselsteyn, Netherlands) – Head coach and team leader
Joseph Leszner (Thornhill, ON) – Consultant en performance mentale
Before being confirmed as members of Team Canada, all nominated athletes are subject to approval by the Canadian Olympic Committee’s team selection committee, once all nominations have been received from national sport organizations.
You can view the updated Team Canada roster for Paris 2024 by clicking here.
-30-
MEDIA CONTACTS
Kylah Cawley, High Performance Manager
Archery Canada
Such. :613-260-2113, extension 1
Email: [email protected]
Tara MacBournie, program manager, sports communications
Canadian Olympic Committee
Cell. : 647-522-8328
Email: [email protected]
