3 Local Olympians Make Us Proud in Tokyo Summer Games
British Columbia sent a record number of athletes to Tokyo 2020. With the Summer Games now under wraps, we want to showcase the local athletic talent that poured out of our beautiful province.
Did you know that over 50% of this year’s Canadian Olympic Team is affiliated with BC? Here are some Tokyo 2020 highlights that spread the love for our local Olympians.
First-time Olympian Takes Fifth Place in Hammer Throw
Richmond’s Camryn Rogers placed fifth in women’s hammer throw. This was the first Olympics for the McMath Secondary and Kajaks Track and Field Club alumnus.
She’s an inspiration to her mother Shari Rogers. “She’s my hero — she leads by example and always shows resiliency and never complains, always just does what it takes to reach her goals.”
At a tender age of 22 — most of her competitors are around 30 — Camryn has quite the future ahead of her. She’s aiming for the 2022 World Athletics Championships and Commonwealth Games. And Paris 2024, of course.
Nanaimo Locals Celebrate Granddaughter’s Bronze Medal
Caileigh Filmer, along with teammate Hillary Janssens from Surrey, won Canada’s first rowing medal of the Tokyo Summer Games. They captured bronze in women’s pairs rowing. It was a gruelling 2000-metre race — the medalists crossed the finish line within seconds of each other.
“We told ourselves that the first 1000 we were going to race physically, the second 1000 we were going to race with our heart.”
Originally from Victoria, Caileigh has fond memories of paddling around Nanaimo’s Shack Islands growing up. But that’s not her only connection to Nanaimo — her grandparents, Alan and Margaret Filmer, are former mainstays of the Nanaimo downtown business scene.
Richmond’s Evan Dunfee Wins Bronze in 50-kilometre Race Walk
With an incredible final push, Evan won bronze in the men’s 50-kilometre race walk — earning him Canada’s first Olympic race walking medal in 29 years.
“I felt [my grandparents, my nana] with me every step of the way there. My friends and family back home watching, like I felt them pushing me that last kilometre.”
Up until this big win, he’s been known for setting the Canadian record in 50-kilometre race walking at the 2016 Summer Olympics where he placed fourth. He loved that moment because it allowed him to speak to over 10,000 school kids in his local community about the value of sport.
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