Canadian Sport Centre Calgary

ATHLETE RESULTS

CANADA'S WOMEN'S FENCING TEAM HAS
BEST FINISH EVER

BEIJING (CP) -- Canada's women's fencing team recorded its best international finish at the World University Games last Wednesday, placing fifth in the epee competition.

Sherraine Schalm

Sherraine Schalm of Brooks, Alta., who overcame a late arrival to the fencing venue, helped the team to three victories in four bouts. Schalm teamed with Marie-Eve Pelletier of Ste-Foy, Que., Marina McConkey of Calgary and Magda Krol of Vancouver, to win the round of 16 by a 24-23 margin over Estonia in a tiebreaker. In the playoff round, the Canadian team lost 45-41 to Russia, but bounced back to beat Germany 45-41 and Poland 45-20.

Fencing officials said it was the best international finish for Canadian women's fencing. "It was fantastic day for Canadian fencing," said head coach Guy Boulanger. "What we achieved is quite unheard of at a world class level."

The day did not start well after the competition was changed from noon to 9:15 a.m. Boulanger was forced to wake up three members of the women's team at the athletes' village and rush them to the competition venue. He then had to locate Schalm, who was staying at a nearby hotel outside the village on her honeymoon. "I told them (Schalm's teammates) to delay as much as possible, to hang in there and fence defensively," said Boulanger. "It didn't matter if they failed to score. I would've been happy with a 0-0 tie at the end of each of their four-minute bouts." By the time Schalm arrived, Canada trailed Estonia 16-14.

"I only took four minutes to warm up compared to my usual 75-minute routine," said Schalm. "For some strange reason, I was able to get loose quickly."

CYCLISTS BRING HOME THE HARDWARE FROM COLOMBIA

MEDELLIN, Colombia-- Jim Fisher (Calgary) and Steen Madsen (Edmonton) walked away with two medals each at the Pan Am Road and Track Championships held last week in Colombia.

Fisher came in second in the 1000m time trial, and on the final day of racing, Fisher, Lars Madsen (Edmonton), Steen Madsen and Doug Baron (Calgary), tore up the track, to place first in the Olympic Sprint. Baron, who rode in the semi final round, set a personal best time of 46.27. Steen Madsen won silver in the Match Sprint, with Baron and Lars Madsen finishing 4th and 8th respectively in that event.

Canadian track athletes have been racking up the medals all season long, and aren't about to slow down. The World Track Championships will be held in Anvers, Belgium from September 26 -30.

Jim Fisher

National team selection has not yet been made, but there is no doubt that the Canadian team will be tough competition for the rest of the world.

COACH: KURT INNES

WOMEN CAGERS FINISH SIXTH AT FISU GAMES

BEIJING, China--The Canadian student women's basketball team, including Leighann Doan of Calgary, finished off a successful World University Games tournament on Friday with a 77-68 loss to Russia to finish sixth overall.

The Russian squad jumped out quickly and only five minutes into the game was up by 10 points and scored 30 points in the first quarter, 30-14. Canada's defensive intensity picked up in the second quarter, holding their opponents to only 10 points. But the Canadians also had difficulty scoring. Canada scored quickly in the first few minutes of the second half and then hit a three-minute drought.

With five minutes remaining in the game, Miruna Muller (Toronto, ON) and Lindsay Anderson (Victoria, BC) both hit three-pointers and narrowed the gap to seven. But the Russians held on and finished in fifth place.

"We are very proud of the character that this team had throughout the tournament," said head coach Christine Stapleton. "We accomplished some great things and these athletes showed how proud they were to be wearing Canada on their jerseys."

CANADIANS AT THE GOODWILL GAMES

The Goodwill Games, currently taking place in Brisbane, Australia, are the most prestigious international multi-sport invitational in the world, where athletes come together to put their greatness to the test. The Goodwill Games invite only the best of the best. Athletes are invited based on rankings and performances in major international competitions including Olympic Games and World Championships.

Calgary will host the Winter Goodwill Games in 2005.

In both the winter and summer formats, competitors battle for their share of a substantial prize and performance purse. In principle a finals-only format, with no preliminary or qualifying heats. Some events feature elimination rounds and group play, culminating in gold-medal finals.

The Goodwill Games provide a global platform to demonstrate the importance of sport, while making strides to better the human condition. Whether making a statement against the Cold War, or helping children around the world, the Goodwill Games stand as a model and an aspiration for every young, dedicated athlete.

Click here for complete Canadian results from the 2001 Goodwill Games in Brisbane, Australia.

.IN THE NEWS....

CALGARY COACHES VIE FOR TOP AWARD

Two Calgary coaches are in the running for a 3M Coaching Canada Award, an annual honour for a male and female coach in both high performance and developmental sport.

Nominee Dan Proulx is an active cycling, swimming and triathlon coach and founder of the TriAthletics Sports Club. Currently a coach with the National Cycling Training Centre at the Olympic Oval in Calgary, Proulx was also the recipient of a Petro-Canada Olympic Torch Scholarship in 2000 and recently completed a diploma in high performance coaching at the National Coaching Institute - Calgary.

Christine Laverty was president of the University of Calgary Gymnastics Association from 1995 to 1997.

Dan Proulx

An athletics coach of 25 years, she has consistently produced national-standard athletes. Laverty is also undertaking courses at the NCI-Calgary.

WOMEN IN COACHING PROGRAM LAUNCHES ONLINE MENTOR PROGRAM

OTTAWA - In conjunction with the unveiling of their newly redesigned website, the Coaching Association of Canada's Women in Coaching program recently launched an Online Mentor Program, designed for women coaches at all levels who want an opportunity to receive feedback from and exchange ideas with an experienced coach.

Canadian women coaches who have taken at least one 3M NCCP course are eligible to apply to work with a mentor coach. Every attempt will be made to pair coaches with an appropriate mentor and coaches will be paired with mentors on a first come first served basis. Coaches can apply online.

Women coaches who have regular access to e-mail, are willing to volunteer a few minutes a week to respond to e-mails, and are 3M NCCP Level 3 certified are encouraged to become mentors. Prospective mentor coaches can fill in an application form online by visiting the Women in Coaching Web site.

This new and exciting initiative will offer women coaches from across Canada an opportunity to receive objective advice and input from experienced coaches. For more information, please contact: Cyndie Flett, Women in Coaching (613) 235-5000 ext. 2386 OR Susan Dodge, Dodge Ink. (613) 248-1857.