While there are no athletes from Strathroy-Caradoc going to the Paris Olympics, there are four from London and one from Delaware.
30-year-old pole vaulter Alysha Newman from Delaware was actually a GYMNAST first, but was forced to abandon that sport at the age of 13 after a lower back injury. After a year off sports where she considered hockey and diving, she chose track and field, and was directed by a coach to vaulting due to her gymnastics background. Newman has won several medals in international sporting events, but never at the Olympics…and she’s attended them twice. If she rises to the occasion, she could challenge for the podium. Track and field at the Paris Olympics begins August 1st.
Powerhouse swimmer Maggie Mac Neil from London won Olympic GOLD in the 100 meter butterfly in the last summer Olympics, in Tokyo. In fact, she came home with a medal in every colour. Maggie cites the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing as the point where she “started to take swimming seriously and knew that she wanted to pursue it further.” This will likely be our last chance to see Maggie shine in the pool at the Olympics….she says she won’t be going to the LA Games in 2028 as she plans to attend law school. Keep an eye on her in her best event, that 100 meter butterfly…as she might medal again.
Shelina Zadorsky from London plays as a centre-back for the women’s national soccer team, having played professionally for both Australia and Sweden as well. She’s listed as an alternate for this Olympics. Zadorsky won a bronze medal with Canada at the 2016 Rio Olympics and won GOLD with Canada at the last Summer Olympics in Tokyo. The reigning Olympic champs are trying to reach the Games podium for the fourth time in a row. But the post-Christine-Sinclair-era Canadians aren’t considered one of the favourites this year after bowing out in the group stage of last year’s World Cup. Still, anything can happen at the Olympics…women’s soccer Group A play is already underway and the gold medal game is August 10th.
London’s Damian Warner is one of the six Canadians expected to capture a gold medal in Paris. The Olympics’ ultimate test of all-around athleticism, the decathlon, WAS shaping up as a battle between two Canadians: Warner, the reigning Olympic champion, vs. Pierce LePage, the reigning world champ. But LePage pulled out last week due to a back injury, making Warner the favourite to repeat coming off his silver at last year’s world championships. Warner attended Montcalm Secondary School in London where he first showed his athleticism in Grade 10 on the football field and basketball courts. The men’s decathlon starts August 2nd at the Paris Games.
London’s Jessie Fleming is a midfielder for the women’s national soccer team. Fleming is one of the country’s best soccer players and has recently stepped into the role of captain of the team, filling a gigantic void left by the retirement of Canadian legend Christine Sinclair. Fleming has also just become the newest brand ambassador for lululemon, which is outfitting Canadian athletes at this year’s Games. The reigning Olympic champs are trying to reach the Games podium for the fourth time in a row. Women’s soccer Group A play is already underway with Canada defeating New Zealand 2-1 Thursday.
Written by: L. Dickson