TORONTO, August 20, 2004 -- York University President and Vice-Chancellor Lorna Marsden expressed jubilation over business student Karen Cockburn’s Olympic silver medal-winning performance during the women’s individual trampoline event in Athens today.
“We are all incredibly proud of Karen here at York,” said Marsden. “Karen’s silver medal triumph is definitely a joyous occasion for all Canadians and is certainly cause for celebration.”
Her parents Colin and Patricia Cockburn, who live in North York, Ont., were glued to their TV set, surrounded by local and national media, in anticipation of their daughter’s walk to the podium. “We are simply elated,” said her mother. “We had high hopes for our daughter at Athens. This is an extremely emotional and happy moment for us.”
Cockburn, 23, took home bronze in the event four years ago during the Sydney Olympic Games – the first time the sport was introduced as an Olympic medal event.
Cockburn began trampoline in 1992 at the age of 11. A competitive gymnast and diver, she used the trampoline as a tool to improve her aerial sense. She soon began competing, training at the Richmond Hill Skyriders Club under Dave Ross, national team coach.
Cockburn is returning to York in September to study business administration in the Faculty of Arts.
Mathieu Turgeon, Cockburn’s boyfriend and a York alumnus, who also brought home bronze during the Sydney Games, is due to compete in the men’s individual trampoline on Saturday, August 21.
York University is the leading interdisciplinary teaching and research university in Canada. York offers a modern, academic experience at the undergraduate and graduate level in Toronto, Canada’s most international city. The third largest university in the country, York is host to a dynamic academic community of nearly 50,000 students and 7,000 faculty and staff, as well as 180,000 alumni worldwide. York’s 10 faculties and 21 research centres conduct ambitious, groundbreaking research that is interdisciplinary, cutting across traditional academic boundaries. This distinctive and collaborative approach is preparing students for the future and bringing fresh insights and solutions to real-world challenges.
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For more information, or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Ken Turriff, York University Media Relations, 416-736-2100, ext. 22086, kturriff@yorku.ca
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