Manitoban Olympians get ready for Rio Games

Manitobans have a lot to celebrate during the 2016 OlympicGames in Rio, Brazil.

Seven Olympians lay claim to a hometown in Manitoba, along with another four with strong roots in thisPrairie soil.

Meet Manitoba's 11 Olympians headed to Rio de Janeiro:

Erin Teschuk

Teschuk hails from Winnipeg and still calls the city her hometown. The 21-year-old track and field starcompetes in the women's 3,000-metre steeplechase.

She won the 2015 Canadian title in the 3,000 steeplechase and finished fourth during the Pan Am Games in Toronto last year. Teschuk won silver in the 2,000 steeplechase at the 2013 Canada Games.

Event schedule:

• Sat., Aug 13: 3,000 heat
• Mon., Aug 15: 3,000 final

Isabela Onyshko

Onyshko is an artistic gymnast from Minnedosa, Man., whonow lives in Brandon. The 18-year-old has wanted to compete for Canada at the Olympics since she was eight.

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Onyshko's seniordebut came during the Commonwealth Games in 2014 and the following year, during the Pan Am Games in Toronto, she helped her Canadian team win silver and was sixth in the all-around.

She won silver at the World Cup in Stuttgart, Germany, this year.

Event schedule:

• Sun., Aug. 7: all-around qualification
• Tues., Aug. 9: all-around (team) final
• Thurs., Aug. 11: all-around (individual) final
• Sun., Aug. 14: apparatus finals (vault, uneven bars)
• Mon., Aug. 15: apparatus final (beam)
• Tues., Aug. 16: apparatus final (floor)

Justin Duff

Duff is a member of Canada's men's volleyball team. The lifelong Winnipegger has been playing volleyball since he was in Grade 10 at Maples Collegiate.

In 2010 he was named the University of Winnipeg's male athlete of the year. The 28-year-old helped the Canadian team capture seventh place a record for Canada in 2010 at the FIVB Volleyball World Championship.

He then helped Canada win gold at the NORCECA Volleyball Championship in 2015.

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Event schedule:

• Sun., Aug. 7: qualification (versus U.S.A.)
• Tues., Aug. 9: qualification (versus Brazil)
• Thurs., Aug. 11: qualification (versus France)
• Sat., Aug. 13: qualification (versus Mexico)
• Mon., Aug. 15: qualification (versus Italy)

TJ Sanders

Sanders was born in Winnipeg but now lives in London, Ont. The 24-year-old is one of the youngest players on the national men's volleyball team.

He helped Canada win bronze at the Pan Am Games in Toronto and a gold medal at the NORCECA Continental Championship.

He plays professionally for Arkas Spor in Izmir, Turkey.

Event schedule:

• Sun., Aug. 7: qualification (versus U.S.A.)
• Tues., Aug. 9: qualification (versus Brazil)
• Thurs., Aug. 11: qualification (versus France)
• Sat., Aug. 13: qualification (versus Mexico)
• Mon., Aug. 15: qualification (versus Italy)

Tyler Mislawchuk

Mislawchuk's sport is triathlon, which requires athletes to swim, bike and run for first place.

Mislawchuk, 21, is from Oak Bluff, Man.

He finished 10th in the 2015 Pan Am Games.

He does his training inAustralia and Spain.

Event schedule:

• Thurs., Aug. 18: men's triathlon

Sarah-Anne Brault

Brault competes in the women's triathlon. She is originally from QuebecCity but she lived and trained in Manitoba between the ages of eightand 18.

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The 26-year-old now lives in Levis, Quebec.

In 2014, she posted career-best finishes in the World Triathlon Series, finishing fourth in Auckland and seventh in Yokohama.

Event schedule:

• Fri., Aug. 19: women's triathlon

Chantal Van Landeghem

Van Landeghem competes in the 50-metrefreestyle and 100-metrefreestyle swim races.

Landeghem, 22, is from Winnipeg but she now lives in Toronto.

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She won three medals at the Pan Am Games, including gold in the 100-metrefreestyle and gold as a member of Canada's team in the 4x100-metre freestyle relay. Van Landeghem earned Manitoba Athlete of the Year honours in 2011.

She now swims for the University of Georgia.

Event schedule:

• Sat., Aug. 6: heat (4x100relay)
• Sat., Aug. 6: final (4x100relay)
• Wed., Aug. 10: heat (100free)
• Wed., Aug. 10: semi-final (100free)
• Thurs., Aug. 11: final (100free)
• Fri., Aug. 12: heat (50free)
• Fri, Aug 12: semi-final (50free)
• Sat., Aug. 13: final (50free)

Sophie Schmidt

Schmidt, 28,was born in Winnipeg butgrew up in Abbotsford, B.C. She plays midfield and helped her team win bronze during the London Olympics.

She is a Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Footballchampion.

Event schedule:

• Wed., Aug. 3: qualification (versus Australia)
• Sat., Aug. 6: qualification (versus Zimbabwe)
• Tues., Aug. 9: qualification (versus Germany)

Desiree Scott

Scott, 29, is a midfielder with Canada's women's soccer team. Rio is her second Olympic Games; along with SophieSchmidt, she played in the London 2012 Games where she helped her team snagbronze.

She was born and raised in Winnipeg and still lives in Manitoba'slargest city.

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Event schedule:

• Wed., Aug. 3: qualification (versus Australia)
• Sat., Aug. 6: qualification (versus Zimbabwe)
• Tues., Aug. 9: qualification (versus Germany)

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Leah Kirchmann

Kirchmann is a roadcyclist from Winnipeg.

At thePan Am Games in 2012 she won silver.She is thefirst Canadian to sweep all three national titles (road, time trial, criterium), and the same year, she finished thirdin the one-day 89-kilometreLa course by Le Tour de France.

In 2016 she finished third in theGrand PrixCyclistedeGatineau.

Event schedule:

• Sun., Aug. 7: women's road cycling

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Nicole Sifuentes

Sifuentesis a track athlete who competes in the women's 1,500-metreevent. The 30-year-old lives in Winnipeg.

This is her second Olympic Games. In London she made it to the semi-finals.

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She is a five-time medalist in theCanadian Championships in the 1,500 event.

She won the silver in the 1,500at the 2015 Pan Am Games in Toronto.

Event schedule:

• Fri., Aug. 12: 1,500heat
• Sun., Aug. 14: 1,500semi-final
• Tues., Aug. 16: 1,500final