Wheelchair fencer Pierre Mainville nominated for selection to Team Canada for Rio 2016 Paralympic Games

OTTAWA, July 6, 2016 /CNW/ - The Canadian Fencing Federation and the Canadian Paralympic Committee announced today that wheelchair fencer Pierre Mainville of St-Colomban, Que., has been nominated for selection to Team Canada for this September's Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

In Rio, Mainville will compete at his third Paralympic Games. At the London 2012 Paralympic Games, the 43-year-old epee and sabre specialist finished seventh in sabre and ninth in epee. He was also ninth in epee at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games.

"The Canadian Fencing Federation is proud to have Pierre Mainville represent our country in the Sabre Category B event at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games,'' said Brad Goldie, Fencing Canada president. ''Pierre is coming into Rio on a winning note and we are looking for him to build upon his London 2012 results."

Mainville earned a berth for Rio by winning the gold medal in men's sabre at the Americas Championships held in Brazil in May 2016.

"Congratulations to Pierre on qualifying for his third Paralympic Games,'' said Canada's Chef de Mission, Chantal Petitclerc. ''Pierre has been consistently on the podium since the London Games and he heads to Rio with a lot of valuable experience.''

Wheelchair fencing is one of 22 summer sports on the Paralympic Games program and is practiced by athletes with various disabilities. Wheelchair fencers compete in foil, epee and sabre. Their wheelchairs are fixed to the ground facing each other and the two competitors battle using only their upper bodies.

The Rio 2016 Paralympic Games are September 7 to 18, 2016, with the wheelchair fencing events set for September 12 to 16.

''The Government of Canada is very proud to support the Canadian Fencing Federation in their efforts to help our country's top wheelchair fencers compete at the highest level at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games,'' said the Honorable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities. ''On behalf of all Canadians, I would like to congratulate Pierre Mainville on his nomination and wish him well in the final stages on his road to Rio."

Athlete and coach biographies are available at Paralympic.ca/athletes. Bios and high resolution photos can be downloaded at http://tinyurl.com/h2fmrlb.

Pierre Mainville will be supported by sabre coach Ildemaro Sanchez (St-Jérôme, Que.).

About the Canadian Fencing Federation: www.fencing.ca
About the Canadian Paralympic Committee: Paralympic.ca

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SOURCE Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC)

Image with caption: "July 6, 2016, OTTAWA –- The Canadian Fencing Federation and the Canadian Paralympic Committee announced today that wheelchair fencer Pierre Mainville of St-Colomban, Que., has been nominated for selection to Team Canada for this September'’s Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. Photo: Daniel Marcotte / Canadian Paralympic Committee (CNW Group/Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC))". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160706_C2611_PHOTO_EN_727466.jpg

Image with caption: "July 6, 2016, OTTAWA - The Canadian Fencing Federation and the Canadian Paralympic Committee announced today that wheelchair fencer Pierre Mainville of St-Colomban, Que., has been nominated for selection to Team Canada for this September’'s Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. Photo: Daniel Marcotte / Canadian Paralympic Committee (CNW Group/Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC))". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160706_C2611_PHOTO_EN_727468.jpg

For further information: Caroline Sharp, Executive Director, Canadian Fencing Federation, Tel: [phone], Email: [email protected]; Alison Korn, Senior Manager, Media Relations and Communications, Canadian Paralympic Committee, Tel: [phone] ext. 243, Cell: 613-298-4927, Email: [email protected]