Kelsey Wyse smiling and wearing three World Games medals
Congratulations to Kelowna's Kelsey Wyse and all the members of the Special Olympics Team Canada 2023 Training Squad!

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

“My goal is simple as always — just give it all I have and more. Just showing people we can all do these things if we dedicate ourselves.”

-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!

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