As announced by Pentathlon Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee, Canada’s modern pentathlon team is nominated to compete at the Pan American Games in Santiago in 2023.
For the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games, Team Canada will field the following modern pentathlon team:
Athletes
Robert Bonomo (Toronto, Ont.)
Kelly Fitzsimmons (Calgary, Alta.)
Quinn Schulz (Calgary, Alta.)
Olivia Li (Calgary, Alta.)
Devan Wiebe (Vancouver, B.C.)
In October of last year, the Canadians qualified for Santiago 2023 based on their performances at the Pan American Championships in Brazil.
A member of the Santiago-bound team with previous Pan American Games experience is Kelly Fitzsimmons. Fitzsimmons won the Canadian modern pentathlon title in 2016, 2018, and 2019. She competed in the women’s individual, women’s relay and mixed relay events at Lima 2019. Additionally, her shooting coach, Trysten Routledge, will represent Canada at the Santiago Pan Am Games in 2023.
“It’s an exciting honour to be selected for the upcoming Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile,” said Fitzsimmons. “For me, Pan American competitions have a special place in my heart thanks to the incredible energy of the volunteers and athletes. I look forward to being on the ground in Santiago with our team and delivering a strong performance for Canada.”
In Santiago 2023, Quinn Schulz will compete for the first time. During the 2022 Pan American Junior Championships in Brazil, the 18-year-old won bronze. The Petro-Canada Fuelling Athlete and Coaching Excellence (FACE) grant was awarded to Schulz and his coach, Olympian and Pan Am Games bronze medallist Joshua Riker-Fox.
“Having the opportunity to attend a major Games and represent Team Canada has been one of my dreams since I started this sport at ten years old, and having the opportunity now to go and compete in Santiago at the Pan Am Games is surely a dream come true,” said Schulz. “I can’t wait to compete and put down a performance I know I’ll be proud of.”
The upcoming Santiago 2023 event offers modern pentathlon athletes a chance to secure direct qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympics. Each event will have five quota spots, limited to one per NOC per gender. The gold medallist and the top two athletes from both the NORCECA (North America, Central America, Caribbean) and South American regions will all earn a coveted spot in Paris 2024. However, athletes who have already qualified will not be eligible for additional spots.
Canada has won two silver and two bronze medals in modern pentathlon at the Pan American Games since 1951.
“I am thrilled to welcome the modern pentathlon team to the Pan Am Games!,” said Christine Girard, Team Canada’s Santiago 2023 Chef de Mission. “I’m always amazed by our multi-talented athletes. In the modern pentathlon, you swim, fence, ride, shoot, and run – which makes multi-tasking look like a walk in the park! Let’s show the world what it means to be a true all-around champion.”
At the Escuela Militar in Las Condes, the modern pentathlon will take place October 21-23 (Days 1 to 3) and October 25-27 (Days 5 to 7).
