The Ottawa Lions are please to announce three Club members will represent Canada later this month at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. This morning, Athletics Canada, in conjunction with the Canadian Olympic Committee, confirmed Melissa Bishop-Nriagu, Tim Nedow, and Lauren Gale will wear the red and white into the Japan National Stadium later this month.
This will be the third Games for Bishop-Nriagu who was 28th in London and 4th in Rio. As one of the faces of Team Canada heading into Tokyo, the 2015 World silver medalist is on the hunt for the Olympic medal she narrowly missed out on five years ago. “I’m really excited for these Games. I think the extra year really did us some good,” said Bishop-Nriagu, whose finish in Rio was the best by a Canadian in the event since 1928. “It’s going to be my third Olympic Games; I’m really looking forward to getting to Japan and being in the Olympic spirit. I feel like it’s been so long since we’ve been able to experience that, so I’m really looking forward to it.”
For shot putter Tim Nedow, Tokyo will be his second Games experience following a 16th place finish in Rio. The Brockville native hit the Olympic standard in his first competition of the season, with a monstrous throw of 21.11 metres at a competition in Pennsylvania. With COVID-19 restrictions in place in Ontario and the standard in his pocket, Nedow decided to stay state side where he has competed sporadically and been focusing on his preparation for Tokyo. He took a similar approach in the lead up to the 2019 World Championships in Doha, where he placed ninth in the strongest competition in the history of the event.
The youngest member of Team Canada’s track and field team is 400 metre runner Lauren Gale. The 21-year old sprinter will be part of Canada’s 4×400 metre relay squad that was fourth five years ago in Rio and a finalist two years ago at the World Championships. Gale, who has been busy training since culminating her collegiate season at Colorado State University with a personal best 51.96 seconds, is the fourth fastest 400 metre runner in Canada this year, right behind Olympic teammate and Lion alum Alicia Brown, who will be participating in her second Games.
“I am unbelievably excited,” said Gale of her first Olympic team nomination. “It is so awesome to get to represent Canada on the biggest stage and run against my idols. I can’t wait [for the Games]!”
Leading the team will be Head Coach Glenroy Gilbert, who will be making his debut in the lead role. However, Gilbert is no stranger to Olympic competition, having represented Canada as an athlete five times (4 summer, 1 winter) and as relay coach in the previous four Games. In the press release from Athletics Canada, Gilbert praised the athletes for their resilience and unwavering commitment to see their Olympic dreams though under challenging circumstances. “Our team has shown a great deal of determination to get where we are today. When faced with adversity, these athletes rose to the occasion, performed on demand and made the most of every opportunity they were given,” said Gilbert. “Athletics Canada is fielding a strong team, with significant depth in a number of events. In Tokyo, I’m confident that they will be at their very best and will make Canada proud.”
Among Gilbert’s coaching staff is Lions 60 metre hurdles record holder Charles Allen, who will be making his second Olympic coaching appearance.
Competition in Tokyo gets under way the morning of July 30th (July 29th in Ottawa) with Melissa Bishop-Nriagu running in the heats of the 800 metres.
-With files from Athletics Canada