Rio 2016 Fun Facts: All in the family for Team Canada

August 3, 2016

By Diana Friche do Valle

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Heading to an Olympic Games may be considered the biggest dream for most athletes.

For some of Team Canada’s athletes, Rio 2016 will be even more exciting, since they will share a bond with a family member who is also representing the maple leaf on the Olympic stage in Brazil. 

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Among Canada’s 314 squad members, there are three sets of siblings and two sets of cousins. Some of them will be teammates and work together to bring home Olympic medals. Others will compete in different sports and will have the opportunity to watch their relatives in action. Here they are:

Katherine and Michelle Plouffe

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The twins Katherine and Michelle Plouffe have an obviously strong connection from birth. Such a special relationship may help Team Canada in the courts during the basketball competition, from August 6 to 20.  At London 2012, Canada finished 8th in the women’s competition.

Jacob and Graeme Saunders

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The brothers Jacob and Graeme Saunders began sailing together in the fall of 2009. Almost seven years later, they will make another debut together, this time in the Rio 2016 sailing competition. The duo will represent Team Canada in the 470 event, from August 10 to 17, at Marina da Glória.

Ashley Steacy and Heather Steacy

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Heather Steacy competes in a women’s hammer throw qualification round during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at London 2012. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

Ashley Steacy in action at 2015 Canada Sevens (Photo: Lorne Collicutt/Rugby Canada).

Representing Canada for the second time in the Olympic Games’ athletics competition, the hammer thrower Heather Steacy will have the company of her sister-in-law Ashley Steacy at Rio 2016. Ashley’s Olympic debut will be also the first time rugby sevens will be played in the Games. Women’s rugby will be held from August 6 to 8, while women’s hammer throw event will take place from August 12 to 15.

Conlin McCabe and Martha McCabe

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Martha McCabe swims at the 2015 Pan Am Games in Toronto.

Conlin McCabe, Kai Langerfeld, Tim Schrijver and Will Crothers celebrate their Pan Am Games coxless four win on July 13, 2015

Rio 2016 will be the second time to the Olympic Games for the cousins Conlin McCabe and Martha McCabe. Member of the silver medal-winning rowing eight at London 2012, Conlin will be part of the men’s fours in Rio, from August 8 to 12.

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Martha, who finished 5th in the 200m breaststroke four years ago, will try to improve her mark in the same event, from August 9 to 10.

Ben Saxton and Graham Vigrass

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Ben Saxton (left) with Chaim Schalk at the Hamburg Major in June 2016 (Photo: FIVB).

Canada’s Graham Vigrass fails to block against Argentina during a men’s volleyball semifinal match at the Pan Am Games in Toronto, Ontario, Friday, July 24, 2015. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

At Rio 2016, Ben Saxton and Graham Vigrass will be heading to the first Olympic Games of their careers. The cousins share a passion for volleyball, but one of them plays in the sand and the other indoor. 

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Saxton will represent Canada with teammate Chaim Schalk at the beach volleyball tournament, along with three other Canadian teams, from August 6 to 18. One day after the start of beach action, Vigrass and Team Canada men’s volleyball will start their pursuit of an Olympic medal, at Maracanãzinho.

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