MONTREAL — Sherraine Schalm will lead a nine-member team to Beijing this summer, Canada's largest Olympic fencing team since 16 went to Barcelona in 1992.
Schalm, a native of Brooks, Alta., who won the 2006 World Cup overall title in epee, is considered Canada's top hope for a first-ever Olympic medal in fencing.
Others named to the team Thursday were Josh McGuire of Montreal, Igor Tikhomirov of Toronto, Philippe Beaudry of Montreal, Sandra Sassine of Laval, Que., Olga Ovtchinnikova of Toronto and Julie Cloutier of Repentigny, Que.
Jujie Luan of Edmonton, a 49-year-old who won a gold medal for China at the 1984 Games, will return to her native country to compete for Canada in foil. Wendy Saschenbrecker of Montreal will go as the substitute in the women's sabre team competition.
The coaches are Gabor Salamon, Jean-Marie Banos and Ildemaro Sanchez.
Only five Canadian fencers went to the 2004 Olympics in Athens and there were four at the 2000 Games in Sydney.
"We have high goals, but they're realistic," said high performance director Danek Nowosielski. "We all believe this will be the first Olympics that Canada wins a medal, plus some top fives and top eights."
