The roster of the Special Olympics Team Canada 2023 Training Squad includes 22 incredible athletes, coaches, and mission staff from B.C.! We are thrilled to congratulate the deserving members of the national team training squad, and we sincerely thank all the dedicated training coaches who will help them achieve their dreams!
The #SOTeamCanada23 Training Squad members are working toward competing in the 2023 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Berlin from June 17 to 25, 2023.
Please join us in cheering for the SO Team Canada 2023 Training Squad’s 128 team members and their valued training coaches! Special Olympics BC athletes qualified for the SO Team Canada 2023 Training Squad through their performances in the 2022 SOBC Super Summer Series.
Visit the #SOTeamCanada23 website
Visit the 2023 SO World Games website
Meet the SO Team Canada 2023 Training Squad members from B.C.
| Name | Role | Local | Training Coach |
| SWIMMING | |||
| Kelsey Wyse | Athlete | Kelowna | Leo Rutledge |
| TRACK AND FIELD | |||
| Jesse Thibeault | Athlete | Surrey | Deborah Carter |
| Jolyn Watts | Athlete | Port Alberni | Michael Riddalls |
| Peter De Marchi | Assistant Coach | Burnaby | |
| Tom Norton | Alternate Coach | Abbotsford | |
| BASKETBALL - FEMALE | |||
| Tyrine Flukinger | Athlete | Kamloops | Les Andrykew |
| Taralyn Kalelest | Athlete | Kamloops | |
| Bonnie-Jean Shade | Athlete | Campbell River | Ken Blackburn |
| BASKETBALL - MALE | |||
| Kyle Litfin | Athlete | Salmon Arm | Brian Litfin |
| Malachy Stewart | Athlete | Prince George | Lorne Dunn |
| GOLF | |||
| Erin Thom | Athlete | Cranbrook | Misty Pagliaro |
| RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS | |||
| Jodi Klukas | Athlete | North Shore | Samantha Kuzyk |
| Jennifer Fyfe | Head Coach | Vancouver | |
| SOCCER | |||
| Amanda Manzardo | Athlete | Coquitlam | Heather Lawson |
| Amy Nelson | Athlete | Coquitlam | |
| POWERLIFTING | |||
| Ryan Kealey | Athlete | Kamloops | Jordan Sernaggia |
| George Maclagan | Alternate Coach | Campbell River | |
| BOCCE | |||
| Wayne Gowanlock | Athlete | Elk Valley | Georgina McIntosh |
| David Wilkinson | Head Coach | Kelowna | |
| 10-PIN BOWLING | |||
| Rachel Peers | Athlete | Kelowna | Dennis Richardson |
| MISSION STAFF | |||
| Michelle Cruickshank | SOBC Sport & Program Director | ||
| Darren Inouye | SOBC Region 5 Coordinator | ||
| Michael Obendoerfer | SOBC Marketing Manager | ||
Media coverage of B.C.'s members of SO Team Canada 2023
- Malachy Stewart featured by My PG Now
- Tyrine Flukinger and Taralyn Kalalest featured in CFJC Today
- Jolyn Watts profiled in Ha-Shilth-Sa
- Ryan Kealey featured in CFJC Today
- Amy Nelson interviewed by Canadian Press
-Kamloops Powerlifter Ryan Kealey
The Road to Berlin
Because the pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2021 Special Olympics BC Summer Games and the 2022 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games, provincial and territorial Chapters across the country worked together to develop a new pathway for athletes to qualify for spots on the national team for the 2023 Special Olympics World Summer Games. SOBC’s path was the SOBC Super Summer Series competitions.
“Special Olympics BC is so proud of the athletes, coaches, and mission staff from our province who are deserving members of the Special Olympics Team Canada 2023 Training Squad. They worked very hard to keep up their training and competing throughout the unique circumstances of last season. We’re so excited to cheer them on through their journey toward the 2023 World Games,” says Lois McNary, SOBC Vice President, Sport. “We’re also deeply grateful to the SOBC volunteers and supporters who worked so hard to host our province’s qualifying competitions last season, so that SOBC athletes could enjoy competing again and have an opportunity to get to the 2023 World Games experience.”
Find SOBC Super Summer Series background and FAQs
Read SOBC Super Summer stories
Find SOBC Super Summer Series photos
Stay tuned to SOBC’s channels and to Special Olympics Canada for upcoming coverage of the #SOTeamCanada23 Training Squad!