New Brunswick sending record number of athletes to Olympics, Paralympics

New Brunswickers can follow a record number of athletes from the province this summer at the Olympic and Paralympic games.

Team Canada will have at least seven representatives from New Brunswick at the two games in Paris.

Chantal Rochon, the performance pathway co-ordinator with the Canadian Sport Institute Atlantic, said the number has been growing over previous games, and it's an exciting time for sport in the province.

"What makes it truly remarkable — without just looking at the numbers — it's the diversity of sports and disciplines that they're representing," said Rochon. 

"I think that just speaks to the incredible talent and dedication here in New Brunswick."

It will be a time of many emotions for the athletes heading over to the Summer Games, according to Rochon.

They will still have training and competing on their minds but will also be in a new city, where many of them have never visited.

Rochon said New Brunswickers should expect some medals from the athletes, but of course there will also be athletes who walk away empty-handed.

"They're competitive, right? So they do want to win," she said. "[In] the same vein, they're used to disappointment along the way."

So far, the province has seven athletes heading to the games, with more announcements still possible. Rochon is hoping for an even bigger contingent next time.

"I think this is just the start … there's a lot of really great initiatives and things that are happening here in New Brunswick," she said.

"The government is investing more money. We're hosting the 2029 Canada Games. So there's a lot of excitement and hype around sport in New Brunswick that I think has been growing in momentum."

Here's a preview of the New Brunswick athletes at the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic games.

Danielle Dorris

Moncton's Danielle Dorris is making her third trip to the Paralympics for swimming.

"I'm coming in as a three-time vet, and I'm coming in with more confidence," said Dorris.

She previously competed at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games where she won gold and silver medals. She also set a world record in the women's 50-metre butterfly event.

Dorris also competed at the Rio 2016 Paralympics at the age of 13, making her Canada's youngest para-swimmer.

Brooklyn Douthwright

Riverview's Brooklyn Douthwright is making her Olympic debut in Paris this year, something that still hasn't really sunk in.

"I don't know if it's 100 per cent settled in, but being able to think that and say that out loud is definitely the best feeling," said Douthwright.

The swimmer previously won five medals at last year's Pan Am Games in Santiago, Chile.

While this is her first Olympics, Douthwright has been a staple in the province's swimming scene for years.

She was New Brunswick's flag bearer at the 2017 Canada Summer Games.

Kamylle Frenette

Kamylle Frenette of Dieppe will be participating in her second Paralympics this year, after just missing out on a medal in Paratriathlon in Tokyo.

Since then, she has won medals at Paratriathlon events in Montreal and Paris. 

In fact, she's won 21 medals in 29 starts.

Colin Higgins

Hitting the court for his second Paralympics is Rothesay's Colin Higgins.

Higgins will join up with Canada's wheelchair basketball team as they hope to better their eighth-place finish from Tokyo.

He was part of Canada's squad which captured bronze last year at the Santiago Parapan American Games.

Jill Irving

At 61 years old, Moncton's Jill Irving will be Canada's oldest Olympian this year when she takes the reins in Paris.

While she has been riding since she was a child, this will mark the dressage athlete's first Olympic Games.

"As a child, I remember watching the Olympic Games, you know, and I'm not a younger athlete — I've been doing this a long time," said Irving.

"Dreams can come true and you just have to stick with it, work hard and keep going no matter what."

She also participated at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru.

Desiree Isaac-Pictou

Ugpi'ganjig's Desiree Isaac-Pictou will be making her Paralympic debut when she aims to shoot some hoops with Team Canada's wheelchair basketball squad.

She was a member of Canada's silver-medal team at the Santiago Pan American Games in 2023.

She's also participated at the U25 world wheelchair basketball championships.

Craig Thorne

Quispamsis' Craig Thorne will be making his Olympic debut in Paris in track and field.

Making the cut came as a bit of a surprise to Thorne, who was aiming for the 2028 games.

He didn't make the original cut, but after injuries and voluntary retirements were taken into account, he was in.

"It was a very stressful, like, anxious time, you know, just checking my emails, checking my phone for messages. But once I got it, it was just a sigh of relief," said Thorne.