KINGSTON, Ont. - The 2016 Rio Olympics kick off officially on Friday night with the opening ceremonies and there will be a few Queen's Gaels alumni in attendance.
Leading the way is former rower Nicolas Pratt who is competing with the Canadian lightweight four team set to debut on the water this Saturday.
Pratt rowed with the Gaels while earning a Mechanical Engineering degree before moving on to continue his rowing career with Western while obtaining a Master's of Science in Engineering. Pratt had his best season with the Gaels in 2008 where the men took both the OUA banner and a CURA bronze medal. Individually, Pratt saw success picking up gold at the OUA championship in the lightweight eight and adding a silver in the lightweight four. At the national competition he finished with a silver medal in the lightweight four and a silver in the lightweight single.
For more info on Pratt as he looks to medal with the lightweight four
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The Gaels are also represented on the staff and officials side of the games with three former athletes taking on important roles.
Rose LaBreche - Rugby 7s official
The former women's rugby athlete at Queen's has become a standout Canadian official and will be adding to her resume with the introduction of rugby 7s to the Olympics.
Dale Leblans - Stregth and Conditioning for Athletics
A former men's rugby athlete, Leblans got his start in Strength and Conditioning with Queen's before moving on to a full-time role with York and now with the Canadian Athletics team.
Ron O'Hare - Physiotherapist for Athletics
Also with the Athletics team as a Physiotherapist, O'Hare was a standout men's volleyball player in the early 1990's. He was the teams rookie of the year in 1990-91 before being named an OUA All-Star the following year.Â
