Walker-Young named Canada's Assistant Chef de Mission for London Paralympics

The Canadian Paralympic Committee has named four-time Paralympic swimmer, Elisabeth Walker-Young, Assistant Chef de Mission for the London 2012 Paralympic Games. She will join Dr. Gaétan Tardif, Chef de Mission, to make up the core leadership of the mission staff team that will lead Canada to its goal to be in the top eight gold-medal winning nations at the 2012 Paralympic Games.

As a member of the Canadian Paralympic Swim Team for 13 years, Walker-Young competed at the Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, and Athens 2004 Paralympics, winning three gold, one silver and two bronze medals overall.

"Having been on Team Canada for so many years, I'm thrilled to be leading the Canadian Paralympic Team as the Assistant Chef de Mission," said Elisabeth Walker-Young. "I look forward to working with Dr. Gaétan Tardif, Chef de Mission, in the coming months and think that his extensive mission staff experience combined with my athletic and professional background will give us diverse perspectives that we can use to ensure the 2012 Canadian Paralympic Team has everything they need to achieve their goals and reach the podium."

Walker-Young has been involved with the Canadian Paralympic Committee for years as a National Team member, as a speaker through the Heroes programme, as Co-chair of the Classification Taskforce, and as a member of the Paralympic Development Committee.

"We are so fortunate to have an Assistant Chef de Mission of the calibre of Elisabeth Walker-Young," said Dr. Gaétan Tardif, Chef de Mission. "As a member of the past six Mission Staff Teams, I have learned the importance of having a former athlete involved in the planning and leadership of a Paralympic Games. Elisabeth will be able to see the process from the perspective of an athlete and this unique point of view will give us a great advantage in London. I look forward to working with her leading up to and at these Games."

The Assistant Chef de Mission and the Chef de Mission will work together to help Canadian Paralympic athletes achieve their performance goals at the London 2012 Paralympic Games by acting as the official representatives and spokespersons for the Canadian Paralympic Team. Gaétan and Walker-Young will oversee the Canadian Team's operational planning and logistics, promote the exploits of Canada's elite Paralympic summer athletes, and raise awareness of Paralympic sport and the Canadian Team across the country and around the world.