British Columbia-connected athletes excelled at the London 2012 Olympic Summer Games. They brought in half of the nation's total medal haul and substantially increased the percentage of medals won by B.C-connected athletes.

Of Canada's 18 medals, athletes who are either from B.C., or train in the province, earned nine, including six bronze and three silver. At the Beijing 2008 Olympic Summer Games, B.C. athletes won 39 per cent of Canadian medals. At the Athens 2004 Olympic Summer Games, B.C. won 25 per cent, and at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Summer Games, B.C. earned 21 per cent of Canada's total medal count.

B.C.'s medal winners were (in chronological order of achievement):

• Christine Girard, White Rock (Rouyn-Norand, Que.) - weighlifting - women's 63-kg - bronze.
• Men's eight rowing team - silver.
• Brent Hayden, Vancouver (Mission) - swimming - men's 100-metre freestyle - bronze.
• Women's eight rowing team - silver.
• Ryan Cochrane, swimming - men's 1,500-metre freestyle - silver.
• Women's team pursuit - cycling, track - bronze.
• Carol Huynh, Hazelton - wrestling - women's 48-kg freestyle - bronze.
• Women's soccer team - bronze.
• Richard Weinberger, Victoria (Surrey) - swimming - open water 10-km - bronze.

B.C. sent 110 athletes to the Games to compete in 22 sports. The British Columbia contingent accounted for 40 per cent of the Canadian Olympic Team. Of those athletes, 67 were born and raised in B.C.; the other 43 received substantial training and support through the B.C. sport system.

B.C. also sent 52 coaches, officials, technical staff, and medical and support team members to the Games.

B.C. soccer star Christine Sinclair, who captured the hearts of Canadians during the Games, represented Canada as flag-bearer for the closing ceremony. Victoria's Simon Whitfield did the honours during the opening ceremony.

Quotes:

Ida Chong, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development -

"B.C. athletes were simply spectacular at the London Games, winning 50 per cent of Canada's total medal haul. Our athletes' success has firmly established British Columbia as an ideal location for training and has impressed and inspired an entire province. In addition, many athletes achieved new personal bests. On behalf of Premier Christy Clark and the B.C. government, I congratulate you all."

Wendy Pattenden, CEO, Canadian Sport Centre Pacific -

"B.C.-based athletes performed with courage, determination and pride at the London 2012 Olympic Summer Games. I am proud of the CSC Pacific team of sport science professionals who work together with the athletes, coaches and our sport partners to help B.C.-based athletes bring home 50 per cent of Canada's medals."

Quick Facts:

• 50 per cent of Team Canada's Olympic medals in 2012 were won by B.C.-based athletes. This represents an 11 per cent increase from the Beijing 2008 Olympic Summer Games.
• 40 per cent of the 277 athletes who represented Canada in London are either born and/or train in B.C.
• 27 per cent of the 96 Canadian Olympic coaches and technical staff are from B.C.
• 31 per cent of the 36 Canadian Olympic medical support staff are from B.C.
• 19 per cent of the 43 Canadian international competition officials are from B.C.
• The Canadian Paralympic Committee will name the Canadian Paralympic Team on Tuesday, Aug. 14.

Learn More:

B.C. Olympic results: http://www.cscpacific.ca/content/MediaCentre/Events/2012OlympicGames.asp

London 2012: http://www.london2012.com/

A backgrounder follows.

Contacts:

Jeff Rud
Communications Director
Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development
250 208-4028 (cell)

Scott Allen
Manager, Communications and Community Engagement
Canadian Sport Centre Pacific
778 327-4096
604 730-9625 (cell)
sallen@cscpacific.ca

BACKGROUNDER

B.C. medallists at London 2012 Olympic Summer Games

(in chronological order of achievement)

Medal

Sport

Athlete, Hometown (Training Town)

Bronze

Weightlifting - Women's 63-kg,

Christine Girard, Rouyn-Norand, Que. (White Rock)

Silver

Men's eight rowing

Brian Price (coxswain), Belleville, Ont. (Victoria)

Will Crothers, Kingston, Ont. (Victoria)

Rob Gibson, Kingston, Ont. (Victoria)

Andrew Byrnes, Toronto, Ont. (Victoria)

Malcolm Howard, Victoria

Conlin McCabe, Brockville, Ont. (Victoria)

Jeremiah Brown, Cobourg, Ont. (Victoria)

Doug Csima, Oakville, Ont. (Victoria)

Gabe Bergen, 100 Mile House (Victoria)

Bronze

Swimming - Men's 100-metre freestyle

Brent Hayden, Mission (Vancouver)

Silver

Women's eight rowing

Lesley Thomson-Willie (coxswain), London, Ont. (Fanshawe Lake, Ont.)

Andreanne Morin, Montreal, Que. (Fanshawe Lake)

Ashley Brzozowicz, London, Ont. (Fanshawe Lake)

Rachelle Viinberg, Regina, Sask. (Fanshawe Lake)

Natalie Mastracci, Thorold, Ont. (Fanshawe Lake)

Janine Hanson , Winnipeg, Man. (Fanshawe Lake)

Darcy Marquardt, Richmond (Fanshawe Lake)

Krista Guloien, Port Moody (Fanshawe Lake)

Lauren Wilkinson, North Vancouver (Fanshawe Lake)

Silver

Swimming - Men's 1,500-metre freestyle

Ryan Cochrane, Victoria

Bronze

Women's team pursuit

Gillian Carleton, Victoria

Jasmin Glaesser, Coquitlam

Tara Whitten, Edmonton, Alta.

Bronze

Wrestling - Women's 48-kg freestyle

Carol Huynh, Hazelton (Calgary, Alta.)

Bronze

Women's soccer

Brittany Timko , Coquitlam (Vancouver)

Candace Chapman, Ajax, Ont. (Vancouver)

Carmelina Moscato, Mississauga, Ont. (Vancouver)

Chelsea Stewart, The Pas, Man. (Vancouver)

Christine Sinclair, Burnaby (Vancouver)

Desiree Scott, Winnipeg, Man. (Vancouver)

Diana Matheson, Oakville, Ont. (Vancouver)

Emily Zurrer, Crofton (Vancouver)

Erin McLeod, Edmonton, Alta. (Vancouver)

Jonelle Filigno, Mississauga, Ont. (Vancouver)

Karina LeBlanc , Maple Ridge (Vancouver)

Kaylyn Kyle, Saskatoon, Sask. (Vancouver)

Kelly Parker, Saskatoon, Sask. (Vancouver)

Lauren Sesselmann, Green Bay, Wis. (Vancouver)

Melissa Tancredi, Ancaster, Ont. (Vancouver)

Rhian Wilkinson, Pointe-Claire, Que. (Vancouver)

Robyn Gayle, Toronto, Ont. (Vancouver)

Sophie Schmidt, Abbotsford (Vancouver)

Bronze

Swimming - Open water, 10-km

Richard Weinberger, Victoria