WOMEN’S TEAM SPRINT WINS FIRST MEDAL FOR CANADA AT COMMONWEALTH GAMES

Birmingham, UK (July 29, 2021) – Canadian Team Sprint squad of Sarah Orban, Kelsey Mitchell and Lauriane Genest win silver and Canada’s first medal of the 2022 Commonwealth Games on day one of racing at the Lee Valley VeloPark.

“We wanted that gold but I just went in thinking that there’s nothing to lose and just gave it my one-hundred per cent,” said Sarah Orban. “Stepping on to that podium doesn’t even feel real. I think I’m still trying to process everything. Being alongside my teammates made it that much more special. I’m so proud of both of them. We executed it well and hit our target of getting on the podium and just standing next to them made it that much more special.”

Both the men’s and women’s Team Sprint squads rode through qualifying rounds with the women advancing to the gold medal final only to be edged out by New Zealand by 0.576 seconds. Meanwhile, the men’s Sprint team of Ryan Dodyk, Tyler Rorke and Olympian Nick Wammes, moved to the bronze medal final, also against New Zealand, just missing the podium finishing 0.717 seconds behind the Kiwis to take fourth place.

Endurance squads also took to the track on the first day of racing. Both men’s and women’s Team Pursuit teams fought to advance through to the final medal rounds but coming up just short with teams each finishing in fifth.

“Our team is still pretty new,” said endurance rider and Olympian Ariane Bonhomme. “We just wanted to put our best foot forward and show what we could do. It didn’t work and we are a little disappointed, but we know we can do so much more. This is our beginning for the Paris Olympic Games and we know what we can do from here.”

Racing continues tomorrow with women’s Sprint, Individual Pursuit and men’s Keirin and Individual Pursuit. Stream on CBC Gem and find full results here.