August 16/12 19:36 pm - Canada Adds Arnold Boldt to Paralympic Cycling Team

Posted by Editor on 08/16/12
 

Cycling Canada announces changes to the 2012 Canadian Para-Cycling Team heading to the 2012 Paralympic Games in London, with Paralympic Hall of Famer Arnold Boldt joining the line-up of cyclists named to the Paralympic cycling team.

With a persisting knee injury to paracyclist Alexandre Carrier (M Tandem) precluding his attendance, Cycling Canada will include first Alternate Arnold Boldt to the team travelling to London.  The initial selection of Carrier and his pilot Luc Dionne was based on a supporting role in the road race, and with the duo unable to race at full capacity, the decision was subsequently made to include Boldt to the line-up.

Boldt started cycling competitively in 2009 and since has won six national titles, including three road race Championships and two time trial championships on the road, as well as a 1000M time trial title on the track.

Arnold Boldt, who has had an illustrious career in the Paralympic Movement, will make his fourth appearance at Paralympic Games. He first competed at the 1976 Paralympic Games in Seoul, Korea, in Athletics, and since then has won an impressive eight Paralympic Games medals, including seven gold in Athletics. The Associate Vice President, Academic and Research, for the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology makes a return to the Paralympic Games after 20 years of absence since his last Paralympic Games competition.

At 54 years of age, Boldt is the oldest athlete on the Canadian Para-Cycling Team. Throughout his life, he earned distinguished honours, receiving the Order of Canada, as well as being introduced in the Canadian Paralympic Hall of Fame, the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame, the Terry Fox Hall of Fame and the Saskatchewan Hall of Fame.

At the 1992 Paralympic Games in Barcelona, Boldt carried the Canadian flag in the Opening Ceremonies.

The 2012 Paralympic Games start on August 29th.