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The University of New Brunswick (UNB) is well-represented at the Olympic and Paralympic Games this year as seven members of the UNB community make their way to Paris to participate in the festivities.

The head coach of the UNB REDS cross-country and track and field teams, Chris Belof, will be supporting Olympic athletes as an event coach for the Canadian marathon and racewalking teams.

Also a member of the Canadian Olympic coaching staff is Catharine Pendrel, who previously attended UNB and will be the team coach for cycling. Pendrel is a former Olympic cyclist, having taken home bronze at the 2016 games in Rio.

UNB alum Desiree Isaac-Pictou (BBA’22) will compete this summer at the Paralympics on Canada’s women's wheelchair basketball team. It will be her Paralympic Games debut.

Joining Isaac-Pictou at the Paralympics is fellow alum Colby Hathaway (BScKin’05), who will be the strength and conditioning coach for wheelchair basketball.

At the Olympic games, UNB alum Marcia Chiasson (BSc’03, MSc’07) will serve as an official as she referees the wrestling events.

Behind the scenes at the Olympics is media attaché and UNB alum Nathan White (BBA’05). He will be working alongside Canada’s swim team.

New Brunswick singer and songwriter David Myles also arrives in Paris this week as he prepares to perform at Canada’s Olympic House. This June, Myles was appointed cultural fellow at UNB’s J. Herbert Smith Centre for Technology Management and Entrepreneurship.

“We are proud of our alumni every day, but the Olympics bring this pride to a whole new level,” says UNB Associated Alumni executive director, Michelle McNeil (BBA’03, MBA’09). “The UNBers involved in the 2024 Olympics are a testament to the dedication and perseverance of our alumni and our community. We’ll be cheering them on.”

Photo credit: IOC Media