Friday, August 5, 2016

RIO DE JANEIRO – It is the biggest honor an athlete can receive: The opportunity to represent their country at the Olympic Games.

Four athletes from Great Northwest Athletic Conference member schools are among the over 11,000 athletes from over 200 countries that will hope to capitalize on 16 days of glory in the Games of the 31st Olympiad. The games commenced with men’s and women’s soccer competition on Wednesday with the rest of the sports starting following Friday’s opening ceremonies.

The list is led by Simon Fraser’s Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe, the 2013 GNAC Women’s Basketball Player of the Year, who was awarded a position on the Canadian Olympic Women’s Basketball Team. The Canadians begin their five games of pool play on Saturday against China. Team Canada’s other opponents in Group B include Serbia on Monday, Senegal on Wednesday, the United States on Fri., Aug. 12 and Spain on Sun., Aug. 14.

Matt Emmons, a 2003 graduate of Alaska, will be competing in his fourth Olympic Games for the United States in shooting. The 2004 gold medalist in the 50-meter rifle prone, Emmons will compete in the 50-meter rifle three positions on Sun., Aug. 14. Emmons was the bronze medalist in the event at the 2012 Olympics in London.

Of the four, the ones with the longest wait to compete will be Simon Fraser’s Helen Maroulis and Danielle Lappage, who will compete in women’s wrestling. Maroulis, who was undefeated in her career at SFU and a 2015 world champion, will compete for the United States at 53 kilograms. Lappage, a three-time collegiate champion and four-time All-American, will compete the 63-kilogram weight class for Canada. Both athletes begin competition on Thurs., Aug. 18.

HOW TO WATCH: All Olympics events are being streamed in the United State by NBC Sports at nbcolympics.com. A subscription to a cable, satellite television or streaming service is required after a 30-minute free trial. In Canada, the CBC will stream Olympic events at olympics.cbc.ca.

OLYMPIC COMPETITION SCHEDULE – ATHLETES FROM GNAC SCHOOLS
All Times Pacific

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe, Simon Fraser (Canada)
Pool Play
Sat., Aug. 6: Canada vs. China, 10:15 a.m.
Mon., Aug. 8: Canada vs. Serbia, 10:15 a.m.
Wed., Aug. 10: Canada vs. Senegal, 1:45 p.m.
Fri., Aug. 12: Canada vs. United States, 11:30 a.m.
Sun., Aug. 14: Canada vs. Spain, 1:45 p.m.
Medal Round schedule to be announced.

SHOOTING: Matt Emmons, Alaska (United States)
Sun., Aug 14: 50-Meter Rifle Free Position, 5 a.m.

WOMEN’S WRESTLING: Helen Maroulis, Simon Fraser (United States)
Thurs., Aug. 18: 53 kg. Qualification, Time TBA

WOMEN’S WRESTLING: Danielle Lappage, Simon Fraser (Canada)
Thurs., Aug. 18: 63 kg. Qualification, Time TBA