Canada name 22 nominees to Rio 2016 swim team

World champion and world record holder Aurelie Rivard and 19-time Paralympic medallist Benoit Huot are among the Swimming Canada nominees for the 2016 Paralympic swim team.

The 22-member lineup will be nominated to the Canadian Paralympic Committee. The team that will compete at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro will be officially announced at a event in Ottawa on 14 July.

Huot of the Para-swimming Intensive Training Centre – Quebec will be competing in his fifth Paralympic Games in men’s S10 events. The winner of nine Paralympic titles, he was Canada’s flag bearer for the London 2012 Paralympic Games Closing Ceremony.

“I’m just so privileged and lucky,” said Huot. “After all these years, to live my passion and be in love with my sport, is so unique.

“Many athletes don’t even have one chance to compete at a Paralympics. I’m going to live it for the fifth time. There are no words. I’m really embracing the moment. I want to enjoy every minute of it and have the time of my life.”

Rivard, of the Club Natation de Haute Richelieu, won a silver medal at her first Paralympics in London. She is the reigning world champion in the 50m freestyle S10 and 400m freestyle S10 and world record holder in the 100m freestyle S10.

Among the athletes attending their first Paralympics will be Abi Tripp of the Kingston Y Penguins Aquatic Club.

“It’s a dream that so many people have,” said Tripp. “Getting the opportunity to live it is a not-even-on-this-earth experience.”

Craig McCord will be the team’s head coach for his fourth Paralympics.

The athletes earned their spots at the 2016 Olympic & Para-swimming Trials, presented by RBC, which were held from 5-10 April.

The Rio 2016 Paralympic Games will be held from 7-18 September.

Full list of nominees:

Benoit Huot

Isaac Bouckley

Danielle Dorris

Gordie Michie

James Leroux

Sarah Mehain

Nydia Langill

Devon Gotell

Tess Routliffe

Sabrine Duchesne

Samantha Ryan

Morgan Bird

Abi Tripp

Nathan Clement

Nicolas Turbide

Jonathan Dieleman

Katarina Roxon

Tyler Mrak

Nathan Stein

Tammy Cunnington

Alexander Elliot

Aurelie Rivard

Coach nominees

France Latendresse

Mike Thompson

Vince Mikuska

Craig McCord

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Sport fans from around the world can now buy their Paralympic tickets for Rio 2016 from authorised ticket resellers (ATRs).

The IPC’s Global ATR is Jet Set Sports, and Rio 2016 tickets and packages can be purchased on the CoSport website.

Residents of Brazil can buy 2016 Paralympics tickets directly from the Rio 2016 website.