Calgary’s Earle Connor wins gold in 100 sprint for one-leg amputees.

Canadian Sport News, LEVERKUSEN, Germany - Earle Connor of Calgary concluded his season in brilliant fashion on Friday as he neared his world record to win the men’s 100-metre sprint for one-leg amputees at the Bayer International track and field competition.

Connor clocked 12.18 seconds in the rain, just off his world record of 12.14 seconds set in 2003, a year in which he received the prestigious Laureus World Sports Award as one of the top athletes in the world.  John McFall of Britain was second in 12.70 and Jean-Baptiste Alaize of France third in 12.85.

“I don’t think I was ever so-well prepared for a race,” said Connor, 31, who lost his left leg below the knee at three months after he was born without a fibula.  “I felt everything was in place to go for the world record.  This was the seventh race in nine this season that I’ve competed in the rain.  So I knew I could go fast.  But I think the elements did impact my final time.  Still I’m extremely pleased.”

Connor, who has never lost a 100-metre race in his 10-year national team career, recycled an old foot after breaking the one on his prosthesis at a race last month in Germany.  The break occurred with about 15 metres to go and Connor was able to hold on for the victory.

Other season highlights for Connor were victories at the IWAS World Cup event in Germany, the Golden League event in Paris and the national championships in Windsor, Ont. Next season, Connor is aiming to win gold at the Paralympic Games in Beijing and also go under the 12-second barrier.

Morningstar wins bronze in 100m Freestyle at French Open.

Canadian athletes warming up to Beijing.

CanWest News Service, OTTAWA - Precisely one year from today, the 2008 Olympic Games begin with the opening ceremonies in Beijing, China.

The Canadian Olympic Committee, the Road to Excellence program and the national sports federations are setting a goal for Canadian athletes to finish among the top-16 nations once the games come to a conclusion on Aug. 24.

If the warm-up to 2008 is any indication, Canadian athletes seem poised to do just that. “After a strong performance at the 2007 Pan American Games, several of Canada’s summer athletes have demonstrated the potential to reach the podium at the 2008 Olympic Games,” said Olympic gold medallist Sylvie Bernier, Canada’s chef de mission. “The final year leading up to an Olympic Games is crucial for Canada’s athletes.”

At the 2004 Summer Games in Athens, Canada finished 19th overall with 12 medals. The U.S. finished first among all nations with 102 medals, followed by Russia with 92.

Canada will send approximately 340 athletes to Beijing next summer. Those athletes have secured positions in 30 different events, to date. The Summer Games are scheduled from Aug. 8-24, and will feature a total of 28 sport disciplines, 302 events, more than 200 participating countries, and an estimated 10,700 athletes.

Canadian Swimmers gets boost from Space.

Canadian Sport News, Ottawa, ON – Swimming Canada’s National Coach Pierre Lafontaine is onsite in Florida today for the Launch of Space Shuttle Endeavour to lend his support to Canadian Astronaut Dave Williams as he embarks on fifteen day mission in Space.

Williams, a long time supporter of Canadian Swimming, was a dedicated swim instructor in Pointe-Claire where Lafontaine made his debut in coaching. During his mission, Astronaut Williams will bring a Swimming Canada emblem on board the spacecraft in support of Canada Swimmers vying to achieve their dreams of competing for Canada at the next Olympics and Paralympics.

”It’s important for our Canadian swimmers to feel they can dream of being the best,” said Lafontaine. “Dave’s hard work ethics and determination are true characteristics of the type of individual we want our athletes to become. We are very proud to be associated to a great Canadian Success.”

Astronaut Dave Williams will perform three of the four mission spacewalks, working on assembly and maintenance outside the Station for 19 hours ... a Canadian record!

First pre-Olympic test event in Beijing wins high praise.

Associated Press, BEIJING — The first test event of the Beijing Olympics is getting rave reviews.

On Friday, young rowers and veteran officials applauded the 2008 Beijing Olympic venue for rowing, canoeing and marathon swimming. “It’s fantastic,” said Robert Treharne Jones, an Englishman working as a consultant for rowing’s world governing body FISA. “The moment I walked in through the door I was very impressed by the sheer size and scale of the whole venture.”

“I’ve seen rowing courses all the way around the world — in both hemispheres — and this is so impressive. All credit to the Chinese for building a magnificent facility.”

The Shunyi water park is hosting the World Rowing Junior Championships, which finishes Saturday — the first of 11 Olympic test events set for this month in Beijing. Tests will be held in sports from baseball to beach volleyball and field hockey.

Unlike Beijing’s polluted air, or the level of political or social change the Olympics might bring China, there’s no doubts the 37 venues will set new Olympic standards. There will be US$40 billion spent on remaking the Chinese capital for next year.

Shunyi (pronounced shoe-KNEE) is enormous — 162 hectares — with a grandstand for 5,000 perched alongside a 2,000-metre rowing course. The course also includes a warmup lake, a white water venue, lots of green and shelter from the wind.

Rowers complimented the food, the bus service and organization. “From what I have heard, this is by far the best facility in the world,” said 18-year-old Morgan Kloes, a South African competing in double sculls. The opinion was echoed by many. “Right from the word go, everything has worked perfectly,” said John Layng, manager for the British team. “Next year this is going to be absolutely fantastic for the Olympics.”

Local organizers were praised for being open to suggestions, and hundreds of volunteers — wearing smile pins and English greetings like “good morning” and “have a nice day” — blanketed the venue with enthusiasm and good manners. The only criticism centered on lax security — many vehicles entered without even a visual check.

“They are really trying to be accommodating as best they can,” said Sam Sweitzer, who coaches the American men’s coxless four. “They are definitely practicing because they come up to you and ask what they can do better. They’re using this as a warmup event, and it will payoff.”

Even the air won praise. Located a 30-60 minute drive from most of Beijing’s other venues, the rowing park is suburban and cleaner than central Beijing.“We have not noticed significant problems at all,” Layng said. “We got a number on our team who are asthmatic and they’re not experiencing anything.”

China will be shooting for its first Olympic gold in rowing. “I’m very impressed,” said Sweitzer, the American coach. “They are guarding their home turf. They’re using the home-field advantage and they definitely want to show well in front of their fans.”“They came ready. They came very, very, very ready.”

CODA LAUNCHES NATIONAL SEARCH FOR NEW PRESIDENT AND CEO.

Calgary— CODA has launched a national search for a new president and chief executive officer to replace Bob Nicolay, who decided to leave the national sport body on September 15 to resume his career in the energy sector, CODA announced on Monday.

“CODA has created a lot of momentum under Bob’s leadership to sustaining its Olympic legacy and building the nation’s first Centre of Sport Excellence in Alberta,” said Colin MacDonald, chair, CODA Board of Directors. “We are disappointed to see Bob go, but are very confident in the extremely strong leadership team he has assembled to guide our organization into the future.”

Over the last year, CODA set records for participation at Canada Olympic Park, added new venues for alpine and freestyle skiing, and snowboarding, hosted additional World Cups, and took several critical steps forward in making CODA’s vision for building the Centre of Sport Excellence a reality. In addition to securing the first stage of funding for the project, CODA has also assembled an expert team to plan and build the Athletic and Ice Complex, which is the core new facility proposed to be constructed at Canada Olympic Park under the Centre of Sport Excellence.

“CODA is exceptionally well positioned to deliver the facilities athletes in Calgary, Alberta, and Canada require to be the best in the world,” said Bob Nicolay. “The organization has a strong plan, a clear vision, a dynamic Board of Directors, and great people who are passionate about sport, and are fully committed to ensuring Canada continues its rise as a world-leading winter sport nation.”

CODA’s current chief operating officer, Jim Younker, has been named interim president until the search for a new president and chief executive officer is completed.

CODA is a national leader in creating Canadian Olympic winter sport excellence from the grassroots level to the country’s best athletes. A not-for-profit organization, CODA supports national sport organizations, encourages educational opportunities and subsidizes the operation of unique training and recreational facilities used by the nation’s top athletes and the general public. For more information on CODA, please visit us at www.coda.ca on the Internet.