Canadian Roundup: Lots of history and a few medals ahead of Rio
It was a historic weekend. Canadians not only topped podiums, but accomplished feats never done before, like Brooke Henderson winning the PGA championship and making LPGA history.
Here are the details.
Golf
Read: Henderson wins first LPGA major
Brooke Henderson kisses the Women’s PGA Championship trophy after winning her first major on June 12, 2016.
Henderson made LPGA golf history, becoming the youngest player to win the women’s PGA Championship in Washington on Sunday. The 18-year-old who scored a hole in one during the first round, closed with a six-under-par (65) finale. As golf makes its return to the Olympic Games, Henderson will likely lead the nation as Team Canada aims to defend its gold medal.
Athletics
Read: Brown joins sub-10 club
Donovan Bailey, Bruny Surin, Andre De Grasse and Aaron Brown are the four Canadians that have run a legal sub-10 second 100m as of June 13, 2016.
Aaron Brown became a member of the prestigious sub-10 second club on Saturday, racing to a new 100 metre personal best of 9.96s in Florida. Brown became the fourth Canadian to hit the mark and currently leads the country in the men’s 100m. With Rio 2016 around the corner Canada has two athletes – Brown and Andre De Grasse – capable of running under 10s.
Swimming
Read: Horner reaches third Olympics | Oleksaik swims to more hardware
Stephanie Horner after qualifying for Rio 2016 at the Open Water Swimming Olympic Qualifier in Portugal on June 11, 2016. (Rick Pelletier)
Stephanie Horner will head to her third Olympic Games this summer, after qualifying in open water swimming on Saturday. Over in Barcelona, Penny Oleksaik led Canadians at the final Mare Nostrum Tour event, just ahead of her 16th birthday on Monday. The Canadian won three of the nation’s six medals, bringing home one bronze and two silver.
Equestrian
Eric Lamaze and Fine Lady 5 compete at Spruce Meadows in Calgary on June 9, 2016. (Jeff McIntosh)
Beijing 2008, gold medallist Eric Lamaze and Fine Lady 5 finished second in jumping at the RBC Grand Prix at Spruce Meadows on Sunday. The team completed the course in 41.96 seconds, just 1.30s behind Irish victors Conor Swail and Martha Louise. Rich Fellers and Flexible of the United States finished third in 43.77s.
Beach Volleyball
Read: Three beach volleyball teams earn Olympic berths
Heather Bansley (left), and Sarah Pavan at the 2016 Hamburg Major (Photo: FIVB)
As the beach volleyball Olympic qualification window closed on Saturday, three Canadian teams clinched spots at Rio 2016. For the first time, Canada has qualified two female teams with Heather Bansley and Sarah Pavan, along with Jamie Broder and Kristina Valjas. Chaim Schalk and Ben Saxton qualified for the men’s tournament, and could be joined by Josh Binstock and Sam Schachter, following their result at the continental qualifier.
Sailing
Sailers returned to the site of the London 2012 Olympic Games for the Weymouth and Portland World Cup in Dorset England. Lee Parkhill led the Canadian team placing second in the men’s laser medal race, to finish fourth overall on Sunday.
