June 28, 2016 (Milton, ON) – Residents are invited to watch, meet and greet the members of Canada’s cycling team at the Mattamy National Cycling Centre in July to cheer them on and wish them luck as they head into the final laps of training for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio in August.

“We are proud to have Hugo Barrette, Monique Sullivan and Kate O’Brien call Milton their training ground and their home,” said Milton Mayor Gord Krantz. “With just one month away from what they have been focusing on for four years, I’m certain that cheers from enthusiastic hometown crowds in in the stands will go a long way in contributing to their success.”

Hugo Barrette will be training from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on July 4, 5, 7 and 8, with a meet-and-greet on July 8 at 12 p.m. Hugo is from the Magdalen Islands, which are located north of Prince Edward Island in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. He began international competition at 19 years of age, two years after leaving his island home. Barrette achieved all time success in 2015 with three medals at the Pan Am Games, as well as his first career World Cup medal in Hong Kong. He is a Canadian record holder in the flying 200-metre with a time of 9.77 seconds.

Monique Sullivan will be training from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on July 11, 2, 14 and 15, with a meet-and-greet on July 15 at 12 p.m. Monique is a decorated track cyclist. She competed for Canada at the 2012 London Olympics and in 2015, Sullivan made Canadian cycling history when she became the first Canadian cyclist to win three gold medals in one Pan Am Games. Sullivan is also driven off of the bike; she recently completed a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Calgary. Monique specializes in Keirin. Keirin originated in Japan and is one of the most exciting track competitions.

Kate O’Brien will be training from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on July 18, 19, 21 and 22, with a meet-and-greet on July 22 at 12 p.m. Kate was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta. She is an athlete of many talents, competing in both the Cycling and Bobsleigh World Cup circuit in 2014 – 15. Her biggest cycling debut to date was right here in Milton this past summer at the 2015 Pan Am Games, finishing second in the Individual Sprint event and first in the Team Sprint. On top of that she also placed sixth at the 2016 Track World Championships in the Individual Sprint category.

Residents will also be encouraged to get in the spirit of the Games on Saturday, August 13 with a ”Cheer for the Athletes” event at the Mattamy National Cycling Centre, which will include free games, activities and live streaming of Olympic Track Cycling on the jumbo screen. More details about this event will be available in July.

For more information on these events, visit here or call 905-875-5398.