Those athletes are being joined by 12 support personnel such as running guides, rowing coxswain and cycling pilots, as well as 134 support staff including managers and coaches.

Gaétan Tardif (pictured above, second left) will be the Chef de Mission and will be joined by assistant Elisabeth-Walker Young.

The team were given a send off at Toronto's Pearson airport, where Tardif paid tribute to those chosen.

"I know our athletes are totally focused on performing their best in London," he said.

"We are all committed to making London 2012 a fantastic sequel to the Vancouver [2010 Winter Paralympic] Games success story, one that will make all Canadians proud of their Paralympic athletes."

Walker-Young, a former Paralympian who has six medals in swimming, added: "As a Paralympian, I'm honoured to be trusted to help lead Team Canada and am proud to bring an athlete's perspective to its management."


Among Canada's leading contenders for medals at London 2012 is Michelle Stilwell (pictured above), who won wheelchair basketball gold at Sydney 2000, and both the 100 metre and 200m titles at Beijing 2008.

Josh Cassidy is another one to watch after he won this year's Boston wheelchair marathon.

Canada should also be strong in the pool, with triple Paralympic gold medal winning swimmer Valérie Grand'Maison going to London, alongside Benoît Huot, who claimed five gold medals at Athens 2004 and one at Sydney 2000 – both are leading candidates to add to their medal hauls.

The wheelchair basketball men's and women's squads are also expected to compete well at London 2012.

Canada is aiming for a top eight finish at this summer's Games to build on their superb performance at the Winter Paralympics they hosted in 2010, where they came third in the medal table.

To see the full team click here.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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