VANCOUVER – With the official start of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games little over a month away, UBC President and Vice Chancellor Santa J. Ono hosted a virtual send-off for the dozens of Thunderbirds past and present who will represent their country as athletes, coaches, and staff.

In addition to President Ono's remarks, the dozens of special guests in attendance were also addressed by Dr. Tricia Smith, a four-time Olympian and current Canadian Olympic Committee President, Robin D'Abreo, UBC Director of Athletics, Operations and Team Support and 2000 Olympian as a member of Canada's Men's Field Hockey Team, and Lesley Cormack, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Principal, UBC Okanagan.

"I am proud of our community and the diversity of athletes, coaches, medical personnel, and support staff who are representing Canada and UBC at the Olympics and Paralympics," said President Ono. "On behalf of everyone at UBC, thank you, and congratulations. Godspeed and best wishes on your trip to Tokyo!"

In her address to UBC's Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls, Dr. Smith reflected on the past year and a half and all the ups and downs it has provided, including the postponement of the Games themselves.

"I cannot think of anyone more prepared than you to have taken on these many challenges, and to take on the next challenges of getting to the games because there will be many," said Smith. "These games will be different and they will be historic. You have got this. You should be very proud. Congratulations everyone!"

Also present at Tuesday's event, among many current and former UBC Olympians, were Kavie Toor, UBC Managing Director, Athletics and Recreation, Tom Huisman, Director, Athletics and Recreation, UBC Okanagan, and Nancy McKenzie, Chair of the UBC Board of Governors.

As a permanent piece of the unique Tokyo send-off event, all participants will be sent a special gift of recognition to also serve as a reminder of the incredible level of pride UBC Olympians and Paralympians provide the entire community.

UBC Vice-President, Students Dr. Ainsley Carry also took part in Tuesday's special event, in conversation with Allanah Yip (Sport Climbing), and Jennifer Oakes (Para-Volleyball), both of whom will proudly represent Canada and the Thunderbirds in Tokyo next month.

UBC has a long and storied history at the Olympic Games, dating back to 1928 in Amsterdam where Harry Warren (Track & Field) became the first Thunderbird to compete.

The T-Birds' first medal came four years later at the 1932 Los Angeles Games when Ned Pratt earned a bronze in men's doubles rowing.

All told, UBC has amassed 67 Olympic medals (19 gold, 22 silver, 26 bronze), including current Thunderbirds swimmer Emily Overholt who won a bronze with the women's 4x200 freestyle relay in Rio de Janeiro.

UBC also has an outstanding record at the Paralympics with a total of 56 medals (24 gold, 13 silver, 18 bronze), with swimmer Walter Wu responsible for a whopping 16 of those, including eight gold.

The complete list of UBC athletes set to attend the 2020 Olympic Games will most certainly grow in the coming weeks as qualifying events are completed and other team rosters are officially announced.

The Olympics officially kick off on July 23^rd while the Paralympics are set to begin August 24^th.

Make sure to follow @ubctbirds and @ubcoheat on your social channels to stay up to date on UBC athletes as they chase their Olympic dreams!
 

Confirmed UBC athletes attending Tokyo 2020

Markus Thormeyer (BSc '21) – Men's Swimming
Kristen Kit – Women's Rowing
*Alannah Yip (BASc '18) – Women's Climbing
*Max Lattimer (BSc '18) – Men's Rowing
*Malindi Elmore (UBCO) (BEd '14) – Women's Track and Field
*Hillary Janssens (BSc '17) – Women's Rowing
Evan Dunfee (BKin '14) – Men's Track and Field
*Nikola Girke (BHK '09) – Women's Sailing (Women's Rugby at UBC)
*Jennifer Oakes (UBCO) – Women's Sitting Volleyball
Byron Green (BASc '09) – Men's Wheelchair Rugby
*Travis Murao – Men's Wheelchair Rugby
Jessica Sevick – Women's Rowing
Kristina Walker – Women's Rowing
Brent Hayden - Men's Swimming
Yuri Kisil - Men's Swimming
Kayla Sanchez - Women's Swimming
Hau-Li Fan - Men's Swimming
Kate Sanderson - Women's Swimming
Phil Berna - Men's Rugby 7s
Andrew Coe - Men's Rugby 7s
Harry Jones - Men's Rugby 7s
Theo Sauder - Men's Rugby 7s
Karen Tam - Women's Swimming (Representing Hong Kong)
John Gay (BA '18, MM '19) - Men's Track and Field
Antoni Kindler - Men's Field Hockey
David Carter - Men's Field Hockey
Gordon Johnston - Men's Field Hockey
Keegan Pereira (BA '14) - Men's Field Hockey
Mark Pearson (BA '14) - Men's Field Hockey
Matthew Sarmento (BKin '17) - Men's Field Hockey
Oliver Scholfield (BSc '15, MM '17) - Men's Field Hockey
John Smythe - Men's Field Hockey
Scott Tupper (BA '13) - Men's Field Hockey
Taylor Curran (BASc '16, BCS '19) - Men's Field Hockey
Fin Boothroyd - Men's Field Hockey
Brendan Guraliuk - Men's Field Hockey
Jamie Wallace - Men's Field Hockey
Mike Mason (BHK '10) - Men's Track and Field
Natalia Hawthorn (BKin '17) - Women's Track and Field
*Liz Gleadle (BKin '13) - Women's Track and Field
Lucas Bruchet (BKin '14) - Men's Track and Field
Phil Jalalpoor - Men's Basketball (Representing Iran)


Confirmed UBC staff attending Tokyo 2020

*Maria Gallo – Women's Rugby 7s Assistant Coach
Claire Hanna (BA '09, MM '11) – Beach Volleyball Announcer
Tom Johnson – Men's Swimming Coach
Martha McCabe (BKin '12) – COC Mission Staff
*Dr. Tricia Smith (BA '80, LLB '85, LLD '01) – COC President
Nicole Sullivan (BHK '04) – Women's Beach Volleyball Head Physiotherapist
Dr. Chris Napier (PhD '18) – Men's Track & Field Physiotherapist
Dr. Kerry MacDonald – Men's Volleyball Sport Science
Jasmine Mander - Women's Soccer Technical Staff
Mallory White - Women's Soccer Physiotherapist
Zach Kalthoff - Women's Soccer Strength and Conditioning
 

* - Attended UBC Tokyo Send-off