TORONTO, August 6, 2004 -- York University will have lots to cheer about when the Olympic Games begin next week: five members of the Canadian team headed for Athens have York connections, including a reigning world champion athlete and a vice-president of the Canadian Olympic Committee.

When Canada’s team marches into the Olympic Stadium, athletes Karen Cockburn and Mathieu Turgeon will join officials Patricia Murray, Cindy Hughes and Tamara Bompa in the procession.

Karen Cockburn, left, a second-year Economics student at York, and alumnus Mathieu Turgeon, right, (Kinesiology and Health Science ’03) are members of the Canadian gymnastics team specializing in trampoline. Both won a bronze medal at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney and train at the Richmond Hill Skyriders Club under Canada’s national team coach David Ross.

Cockburn, the reining world champion, is a favourite for the gold medal in Athens and placed first in four World Cup events this year. Turgeon, Canadian men’s champion and a competitor on the World Cup circuit, says the inclusion of trampoline in the Olympics gave the sport a real boost. "People know it's a real sport now not something you do in the backyard," said Turgeon. "Since the Olympics the sport has really taken off.”

The pair also tour with the Skyriders acrobatic trampoline team that thrills crowds at North American professional sporting events.

Patricia Murray, left, Director of Sport York & Recreation, is vice-president of the COC and led the Canadian synchronized swimming team at four Summer Games. This will be her sixth Games. Murray has received numerous awards for her volunteer work on behalf of sport and was at the forefront of the effort to see Canada’s Sylvie Frechette awarded the gold medal for synchronized swimming that she lost to a judge’s error in the 1992 Games in Barcelona.

Cindy Hughes, right, is manager and head therapist with York’s Sports Therapy Clinic. She has worked with a number of national teams and served as therapist at many major games and world championships. She was Chief Therapist for the Canadian Olympic Team at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics and will serve in that capacity again in Athens.

Tamara Bompa, left, will be travelling to her sixth Games and will again serve as a judge in the rhythmic gymnastics competition. Bompa, who is famous in Canada as a former national team coach and respected leader in the sport, retired as associate lecturer in July but will continue teaching part-time.

 

 

 

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For further information, please contact:

David Fuller
Media Relations
York University
416-736-2100, ext. 22091
dfuller@yorku.ca
YU/104/04