The 2016 Canadian Olympic team was officially announced this week, featuring 313 athletes from across the country.
Among the long list of accomplished Canadians are a trio with New Westminster ties, from sports as divergent as field hockey, track and field and women’s gymnastics.
New West’s Brenden Bissett was selected to patrol the midfield for the men’s field hockey team. The 23-year-old has played 45 games for Canada since 2011, despite missing nearly three years of action due to injuries.
He has spent the past two years in the Canadian program, helping it win silver at the 2015 Pan Am Games.
Track and field’s Mike Mason was born in New Westminster. The 29-year-old men’s high jumper is competing in his third Olympic Games, with Beijing and London his prior experiences. In 2012 Mason advanced to the final where he placed eighth, and followed that with a silver medal at last year’s Pan Am Games.
Like Mason, Brittany Rogers was born in the Royal City. The gymnast is going to her second Olympics, after debuting in London.
The 23-year-old Rogers, who wrapped up a four-year college career at the University of Georgia as a five-time All American last year, advanced to the vault final in London, finishing seventh.
