Five local athletes are heading to Santiago, Chile, to compete for Canada at the 2023 Pan American Games that begin Friday, Oct. 20 and run until Nov. 5.
Port Coqutilam hammer thrower Kaila Butler, gymnast Sydney Turner and water polo player Reuel D'Souza will join Coquitlam mountain biker Sandra Walter and middle-distance runner Addy Townsend as part of Canada's contingent of 473 athletes along with 235 coaches and support staff.
Butler, a Terry Fox Secondary grad, finished eighth at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, shortly after she wrapped up her collegiate career at Bowling Green University in Ohio where she placed 13th in the national championships.
Turner helped boost Canada to bronze at the 2022 FIG World Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool, England, automatically qualifying the women’s team for the Summer Olympics in Paris next year — an historic first. She was also part of the team that won back-to-back bronze medals at the Pan American championships in 2022 and 2023.
D’Souza was born in India, but learned his love for water polo locally after his family settled in Port Coquitlam. He helped Canada win gold and bronze medals at the Pan-American Junior Championships in 2016 and 2018 and now competes professionally in Europe.
Walter, 43, is one of the oldest athletes Canada is sending to Chile. She most recently finished third in the cross-country Olympic race at the Canadian national championships in Kentville, N.S., in July and she placed 50th in the same event at the UCI World Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, in August.
After graduating from Dr. Charles Best Secondary School, Townsend went on to an illustrious collegiate career at Simon Fraser University. She made her debut at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, last year where she finished seventh in her 800m heat.
The Pan Am Games will feature 423 medal events in 39 sports and 61 disciplines.
Young gymnasts also representing Canada
Six athletes from Club Aviva in Coquitlam are headed to Birmingham, England, Nov. 16–19, to compete as part of Team Canada at the world age group championships.
They are:
- Brooklyn Lee-McKeeken
- Hayden Good
- Jayden Jean-Louis
- Kayla Howell
- Matt Dykman
- Mia Frohnsdorf
The club is holding a fundraiser at the Golden Parrot Pub (170 Golden Dr., Coquitlam) on Nov. 4. The event begins at 5 p.m. and features a 50/50 draw as well as a silent auction.
Tickets can be purchased at Club Aviva (98 Brigantine Dr., Coquitlam) for $32, which includes a choice of burger and an alcoholic beverage or soft drink.
