With the 2020 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo a year away, here are eight Canadian athletes to keep an eye on:
ANDRE DE GRASSE, Track — The 24-year-old from Markham, Ont., captured three sprint medals in an entertaining battle with Jamaican superstar Usain Bolt. De Grasse was going to challenge Bolt for gold at the world championships a year later, but a hamstring injury before the meet forced him to withdraw. He re-injured the hamstring last summer and shelved his season. De Grasse has had a solid early season, running 9.99 seconds in the 100 metres and 19.91 in the 200. If he can stay healthy, he will be in the mix for more medals in Tokyo.
CHRISTINE SINCLAIR, Soccer — Expected to lead the women's soccer team in a bid to medal at three straight Olympics after collecting bronze in London in 2012 and Rio de Janeiro in 2016. The 36-year-old from Burnaby, B.C., will want to erase the disappointment of the round-of-16 exit at this year's World Cup in France. With 182 goals in 286 appearances for Canada, Sinclair is chasing retired American forward Abby Wambach's world record of 184 international goals.
KYLIE MASSE, Swimming — Two-time world champion in the women's 100-metre backstroke and world-record setter since tying for bronze in Rio. The 23-year-old from LaSalle, Ont., leads a powerhouse women's swim team with multiple medal chances in individual races and relays. Canada's last Olympic backstroke champion was Mark Tewksbury in 1992.
LAURENCE VINCENT-LAPOINTE, Canoe — When women's sprint canoe sprint makes its Olympic debut in Tokyo, the 27-year-old from Trois-Rivieres, Que., is the gold-medal favourite with a combined 11 world titles in both single and double events. She's gunning to be the first Olympic gold medallist in the C1 and in the C2 with Katie Vincent.
BRENT LAKATOS, Wheelchair racing — Excelling in sprints and middle distances, the 39-year-old from Dorval, Que., is the reigning world champion in the 100, 200, 400 and 800 metres in the T53 classification. Lakatos collected four medals in Rio, including 100-metre gold. He holds world records in five distances.
SEAN MCCOLL, Climbing— Of the millennial-friendly sports of surfing, rock climbing and skateboarding making their Olympic debut in Tokyo, Vancouver's McColl is a climbing contender having won multiple international lead climbing, speed climbing, and bouldering events. The 31-year-old has appeared in the TV show "American Ninja Warrior."
ROSIE MACLENNAN, Trampoline — If she can bounce back from her broken ankle this year, the trampoline star from King City, Ont., can be the first Canadian to win three consecutive Olympic gold medals in an individual event. MacLennan, 30, has overcome challenges before en route to victory as she recoverd from a concussion to win in Rio.
AURELIE RIVARD, Para swimming — Triple gold medallist in swimming and Canada's closing ceremonies flagbearer at the 2016 Paralympics, Rivard broke her own record in the S10 400-metre freestyle last year. The 23-year-old from St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., holds three other freestyle world records.
— With files from Lori Ewing and Neil Davidson.
Follow @DLSpencer10 on Twitter
Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press
