Saturday, May 6,
2000
Eight
Canadians meet COA badminton standards
OTTAWA (CP) -- Eight badminton players have met the
Canadian Olympic Association standard for the Sydney Olympics.
A year-long qualifying procedure, that set Badminton
Canada back $250,000 in travel and other costs, officially concluded with the release of
Thursday's world rankings.
Canadian qualifiers are Robbyn Hermitage of
Kitchener, Ont., and Milaine Cloutier of Granby, Que., as well as Denyse Julien of
Rouyn-Noranda, Que., and Charmaine Reid of Fort Erie, Ont., in women's doubles; Mike Beres
of Mount Pleasant, Ont., and Kara Solmundson of Winnipeg in mixed doubles; and Brent
Olynyk of Vancouver and Bryan Moody of Pointe-Claire, Que., in men's doubles.
While the eight have met the COA standard, Badminton
Canada must still apply to the COA for the athletes to be officially accepted.
Solmundson and Beres were among the busiest competing
in 20 tournaments since May 1, 1999.
"It would have been unfortunate to have finances
prevent us from going to the Olympics," said Solmundson, who won three straight
international tournaments with Beres in April to finish ranked 17th. The top 19 qualified
for the Games.
"We've worked so hard and sacrificed so much
that you don't want the dollar sign to stand in your way. This qualifying process is
insane and very stressful. I don't know if I could do it again."
Olynyk and Moody, who only joined forces last
September, also just made it. They finished 22nd with the top 23 advancing. The key result
for them was a semifinal victory over an American pair at a tournament in Chile last
month.
Canada also sent eight badminton players to the
Olympics in 1996
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