(Update at 21:00 Toronto time: Rewrites headline and first paragraph to say Kiejko won Canada’s only shooting spot. Adds comment by SFC’s Verdier.)
TheGunBlog.ca — Lynda Kiejko won Canada’s only spot to compete in shooting in this year’s Olympics in Tokyo, the second time in a row she has qualified for the summer games.
Lynda Kiejko is headed to #Tokyo2020 🙌
She will compete for 🇨🇦 in the 10m air pistol event 💪
See all of #TeamCanada's qualifications 👉https://t.co/Xfip0UINau pic.twitter.com/0hQjhwia8z
— Team Canada (@TeamCanada) January 22, 2020
The Shooting Federation of Canada named Kiejko, a 39-year-old mother of three from Calgary, as the winner of Canada’s sole quota spot on Jan. 20, based on her scores and prospects of winning a medal in the women’s 10-metre air-pistol match.
‘We Are So Proud’
“Congratulations Lynda!” Lisa Deneka, Vice President of High Performance for the Ottawa-based SFC, said in a statement. “We are so proud of you and can’t wait to see all your hard work pay off and boost your success at the Olympic Games!”
Kiejko Tweet
“4 years, 2 more kids, 2/3 CIB from @SmithBusiness while working for @AltaLink,” Kiejko said today on Twitter. “here is my 2nd nomination to @TeamCanada #Olympics I couldn’t have done it without a huge support team! @KevinKiejko #proud #hardwork”
4 years, 2 more kids, 2/3 CIB from @SmithBusiness while working for @AltaLink here is my 2nd nomination to @TeamCanada #Olympics I couldn't have done it without a huge support team! @KevinKiejko #proud #hardwork https://t.co/We1Ci6Xamo
— Lynda Kiejko OLY (@Cdnshootingstar) January 22, 2020
Trudeau vs. Kiejko
This could be the last time a Canadian pistol shooter attends the Olympics if Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has his way.
He is working to end Kiejko’s athletic career and kill sport shooting by making it a crime to have handguns.
A Calgary councillor who wants handgun bans proposed a new committee yesterday to study the issue with the backing of the mayor.
Trudeau is also preparing to order mass rifle confiscations against hunters, farmers, firearm collectors and sport shooters.
Team Support
“Congratulations to my teammate Lynda Kiejko @Cdnshootingstar who will represent 🇨🇦 this summer at @Tokyo2020!” Allan Harding, a Canadian national pistol champion, said today on Twitter.
Congratulations to my teammate Lynda Kiejko @Cdnshootingstar who will represent 🇨🇦 this summer at @Tokyo2020! 😃#teamcanada #issf @TeamCanada https://t.co/eM91hZ64lq
— Allan Harding (@allanharding) January 22, 2020
“Lynda is a phenomenal teammate and I’m so honoured to have her represent Canada again!” Kim Britton, who was also competing for the Olympic spot, told TheGunBlog.ca by e-mail.
Single Olympic Spot
“As no other quotas were won and no other qualification opportunities are available to us for the Tokyo Olympic Games, Lynda Kiejko will be the only Canadian athlete attending the Olympics in the shooting sports,” SFC Technical Director Susan Verdier told TheGunBlog.ca.
Canadian shooters could still qualify for the Tokyo Paralympic Games, she said.
Olympic Women
Kiejko, an engineer for AltaLink and a vice-chair of the Canadian Firearms Advisory Committee, shot in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro after winning double gold in 10-metre air pistol and 25-metre .22LR pistol at the 2015 Pan Am Games in Toronto.
Cynthia Meyer competed in trap as the only other Team Canada shooter in Rio.
Lisa Borgerson will join Kiejko in Tokyo as her coach, the Shooting Federation said.
The SFC named Yanka Vasileva as Kiejko’s alternate.
https://twitter.com/TheGunBlog/status/1220070369303810048
Congrats Lynda! So proud of you for making @TeamCanada again. Can’t wait to see you compete in Tokyo! #yyc #olympics https://t.co/eOlziW6QpX
— AltaLink (@AltaLink) January 22, 2020
Shooting Federation of Canada Statement
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