Topic: News: WE Member Guy Greavette Team Leader for Canada

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

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WE Member Guy Greavette Team Leader for Canada
By Chris Law

When the world’s finest athletes gather in Beijing over the course of the next several weeks, Canadians will cheer for their countrymen and countrywomen in a swelling of national pride. Of particular interest to Lake Country residents may be the weightlifting events because of the local connection through Winfield resident Guy Greavette. Greavette, a former Olympic weightlifter himself, has been appointed to the position of team leader and coach for the Canadian weightlifting team.

Greavette says that this year’s team is in the running for medal finishes.

“We have the potential for two women’s medals,” says Greavette. “In the women’s 48 kilogram class we hope to take the gold.”

If the team is able to capture an Olympic medal it would be the first Canadian weightlifting victory at the games since 1984 when Jacques Demers took the silver.

[attachimg=1]
Jasvir Singh will represent BC in weightlifting at the 2008 Olympics
in Beijing. He is the first British Columbian weightlifter to go to the games
since his coach Guy Greavette of Lake Country in 1988.

Greavette is hopeful that placing well at the Olympics will garner more recognition for the sport at the national level. Increasing public awareness could result in increased funding for Canadian weightlifting, which currently receives only minimal financial support.

Canada has been finishing well at international competitions over the past few years and as a result the Olympic weightlifting team is the largest it has been since 1984. The team is made up of Jasvir Singh and Francis Luna-Grenier who will compete in the men’s 62 kilogram and 69 kilogram competitions respectively. In the women’s competition Marilou Dozois-Prevost will compete at 48 kilograms, Christine Girard at 63 kilograms, and Jeane Lassen at 75 kilograms. Rounding out the team is Yovan Fillion as the second coach. According to Greavette, Girard and Lassen both have medal potential.

As team leader and coach, Greavette is responsible for communication between the team and the Canadian Olympic Committee. He will also use his own experience to help in the training and preparation process.

Greavette, who competed in the 1988 Olympics, is looking forward to see how the team does in Beijing. He says it is an honor to return to the Olympics and to have the opportunity to coach at that level.

[Shaun Le Conte]

That's a great article about Guy and the Canadian team. I think the original author misquoted Guy about which athlete has the greatest chance to medal, but regardless all 5 lifters are phenomenal.