Athens or bust! 22 area athletes bound for Games

By Rob Brodie, Ottawa Sun, Tue, July 20, 2004

Ian Millar has been down this trail more often than any Canadian. But for so many other fresh-faced newcomers, the Athens Summer Olympics will be their first -- and perhaps only -- chance to shine on sport's biggest global stage.

Leave it to one of those newbies at this game to sum up the mood yesterday, when the Canadian Olympic Committee officially named the 266 athletes who will proudly wear the red and white next month in Greece.

"I'm so excited to be able to have a chance to live this dream," said Melanie Banville of Long Sault, who makes her Olympic debut in Athens along with Ottawa Gymnastics Clubmate Heather Purnell of Metcalfe.

Turns out the youngest and oldest of Canada's 2004 crew both hail from the capital region. The senior member is Millar, 57, who earned nomination to his ninth Olympic team (his first was in 1972 in Munich).

He'll compete in No. 8 in Athens -- a U.S.-led boycott kept him home from the 1980 Moscow Games.

'I WANT TO GO THERE'
As she grew up in the Cornwall area, Banville -- at 17, the youngest member of our Athens team -- started dreaming of the day when she'd make it there herself.

"I remember watching all the Olympics when I was little, and I always told myself 'wow, I want to go there,' " said Banville. "I never actually thought it would come true."

Other first-time Olympians with Ottawa-area connections include wrestler Evan MacDonald of Greely and kayakers Ryan Cuthbert of Carleton Place and Andrew Willows of Gananoque, along with Ottawa's Marianne Illing (water polo), Richard Adu-Bobie (track and field), Heather Ross McManus (trampoline) and Faazil Kassam (table tennis).

Heading the 22-member area contingent is Simon Whitfield of Kingston, the defending Olympic gold medallist in men's triathlon. Whitfield and Millar were both among those considered to carry Canada's flag in the Aug. 13 opening ceremony.

That honour went to judoka Nicolas Gill of Montreal, a veteran of four Olympics. Gill, 32, won bronze at the 1992 Barcelona Games and silver four years ago in Sydney.

"It's a big surprise to be carrying the flag," Gill said via satellite from Belgium during a news conference yesterday in Toronto to announce the Olympic team.

"To carry the Olympic flag will be my best memory from my Olympic career. It's an incredible honour."

Gill had to overcome major knee surgery in November to make the Athens team.

"After Sydney, I thought my Olympic career was coming to an end. I didn't think I could survive another four years," said Gill.

The 266-athlete Canadian team -- down from 311 in Sydney -- includes 134 women and 132 men, along with 77 coaches.

There are three returning gold medallists from 2000: Whitfield, wrestler Daniel Igali and tennis' Daniel Nestor.

MEDAL FAVOURITES
Best medal bets among Ottawa-area athletes at the Athens Olympics:

Simon Whitfield, triathlon: Kingston native was surprise gold medallist in Sydney. Area's -- and one of Canada's -- top hopes for gold at 2004 Games.

Marianne Illing, water polo: Canada's women's team is No. 4 in the world and placed fifth in Sydney. They've got golden thoughts and dreams about Athens. Illing is a first-time Olympian.

Sherraine MacKay, fencing: Recent World Cup victory shows U of Ottawa grad is hitting top form heading into her second Olympics. Ranked No. 5 in world in epee.

Heather Ross McManus, trampoline: Also peaking at the right time. Silver medal at World Cup event on the weekend (behind world champ Karen Cockburn of Toronto) bodes well.

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