June 24, 2004
Canadian Sport News

2004 Paralympic Boccia Team Announced

OTTAWA – The Canadian Cerebral Palsy Sports Association is proud to announce the team that will compete in boccia at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece.

Mirane Lanoix-Boyer (Hull, QUE)

David Van Hoek (Cranbrook, BC)

François Bourbonniere (Montreal, QUE)

Tammy McLeod (London, ON)

Paul Gauthier (Vancouver, BC)

Alison Kabush (Surrey, BC)

Daniel Gauthier (Sorel, QUE)

Josh Vander Vies (Sarnia, ON)

Head Coach - Herb Torrance (Vancouver, BC)

Assistant Coach - Mario Delisle (Montreal, QUE)

The team will be a mix of experienced and rookie athletes, with David Van Hoek, Daniel Gauthier and Josh Vander Vies joining previous Paralympians Mirane Lanoix-Boyer, Francois Bourbonniere, Tammy McLeod, Paul Gauthier and Alison Kabush.

Canada won two bronze medals in the BC3 pairs and individual divisions at the 2000 Paralympic Games in Sydney, and is one of the few countries that will contest all seven divisions of play in Athens.

Coaches Herb Torrance and Mario Delisle are extremely excited about the team. “This is the toughest selection we have ever had. The players had to work very hard to earn their spots.” said Torrance, adding “We now have three months left before we go to Athens and it expected that the athletes will now go into full gear in their preparations for Athens. This is a time when most people take summer vacation but these athletes are committed to train during this period of the year forgoing any holidays so they can be prepared for Athens.”

Alison Kabush, half of the pair that medaled in Sydney, agrees.

“I am very excited about going to the Paralympics and the work is only just beginning. Now we have to start strategizing and preparing to face other top players. This is the tournament that everyone looks forward to and all the athletes there are first class athletes that work very hard to earn their spot. All the effort that is going to be put out in the next three months is very worth the experience.

Boccia is a game of strategy, skill and precision played indoors by athletes with cerebral palsy and related disabilities. Athletes compete in individual, pairs and team divisions. Boccia has been a summer Paralympic sport since 1992.

reprinted with permission