COC announces 313-athlete Canadian team for Rio Olympics

TORONTO – The Canadian Olympic Committee has announced Canada’s full 313-athlete team for the Rio Olympics.

The large Canadian contingent is made up of 187 women and 126 men ranging in age from 16 to 56.

Ontario is the most represented province with 132 athletes, followed by British Columbia (68) and Quebec (54).

The oldest athlete on the team is 56-year-old Lesley Thompson-Willie, coxswain of the women’s eights rowing team. She will be competing at her eighth Olympic Games, tying the all-time women’s record.

She was also named to Canada’s team for the 1980 Moscow Olympics but did not compete when Canada joined the U.S.-led boycott of those Games.

Artistic gymnast Shallon Olsen, 16, is the youngest member of the Canadian team. She is one of four team members born in the 21st century

Track cyclist Georgia Simmerling is on the verge of becoming first Canadian athlete to compete in a different sport at three Olympic Games. She participated in alpine skiing in Vancouver 2010 and freestyle skiing in Sochi 2014.

The Canadian team includes 98 coaches and 107 support staff.