Canadian Olympic Committee @cdnolympicteam pres & UBC alum Tricia Smith sends off @ubctbirds athletes to #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/QfzG6Ze6QZ — UBC Public Affairs (@ubcnews) July 6, 2016

From left to right: Kavie Toor, Dr. Louise Cowin, and David Sidoo. Photo by Bob Frid/UBC Thunderbirds

UBC athletes have participated in the Olympics since the 1928 Games in Amsterdam (Harry Warren, track and field)

UBC won its first medal in 1932 in Los Angeles (Ned Pratt, bronze in doubles rowing)

UBC Olympians have won 66 medals: 19 gold, 22 silver and 25 bronze

UBC Paralympians have won 56 medals: 24 gold, 13 silver and 18 bronze

UBC's most decorated Olympian is Kathleen Heddle with three gold and one bronze in rowing

UBC's most decorated Paralympian is Walter Wu, whose 16 medals in swimming include eight gold

A large Olympic and Paralympic athletes, coaches, and staff were sent off to Rio from UBC Wednesday afternoon and UBC's incoming President and Vice-Chancellor Santa J. Ono made sure they were sent off in style.Before a large crowd at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre of UBC athletes, dignitaries, and staff Professor Ono presented the UBC Olympians and Paralympians with a commemorative bowtie to bid them well in their quests for gold."Just getting a chance to compete on the world stage is a tremendous achievement," said Professor Ono from the podium. "When you consider the training and the academic work our current and former students are putting in, or are about to put in for those just enrolling at UBC, they are already winners."Also on hand was Canadian Olympic Committee President Tricia Smith, herself a UBC alumna. Smith began her rowing career on UBC's varsity teams and parlayed her skill and love of the sport into four Olympic appearances. While at the podium she shared a quote with UBC's current Team Canada from the founder of the modern Olympics, Baron de Coubertin."The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well."Also taking part in the ceremony were UBC's Vice President of Students Louise Cowin and UBC's incoming Senior Athletics Director Gilles Lepine.Here is the list of all the athletes, coaches, and support staff making up UBC's Team Canada.(Athlete) – Wheelchair Rugby(Athlete) – Wheelchair Rugby(Athlete) – Swimming(Athlete) – Swimming(Athlete) – Swimming(Athlete) – Swimming(Athlete) – SwimmingDavid Carter (Athlete) – Men's Field Hockey(Athlete) – Men's Field Hockey(Athlete) – Men's Field Hockey(Athlete) – Men's Field Hockey(Athlete) – Men's Field Hockey(Athlete) – Men's Field HockeyMatt Sarmento (Athlete) – Men's Field Hockey(Athlete) – Men's Field HockeyTom Johnson (Coach/Support Staff) – Swimming(Coach/Support Staff) – SwimmingAndrea Wooles (Coach/Support Staff) – CyclingNavin Presad (Core Medical) – Canadian Olympic CommitteeTricia Smith – President, Canadian Olympic Committee(Athlete) – RowingMax Lattimer (Athlete) – Rowing(Athlete) – Rowing(Athlete) – Track and Field*Lucas Bruchet (Athlete) – Track and Field(Athlete) – Track and Field*Elizabeth Gleadle (Athlete) – Track and Field(Athlete) – Track and Field*Mike Mason (Athlete) – Track and Field(Athlete) – Track and Field(Athlete) – Women's Beach Volleyball(Athlete) – Men's VolleyballJeff Sauve (Coach/Support Staff) – Men's Field Hockey(Athlete) – SailingLuke Ramsey (Athlete) – SailingJanice Hanan (Coach/Support Staff) – SwimmingEugene Liang (Coach/Support Staff) – SwimmingRon Mattison (Coach/Support Staff) – SwimmingAdam Parfitt (Coach/Support Staff) – RowingAndy VanNeutegem (Coach/Support Staff) – Wheelchair RugbyGerry Dragonmir (Coach/Support Staff) – AthleticsPaddy McCluskey (Coach/Support Staff) – AthleticsTrent Stellingwerff (Coach/Support Staff) – AthleticsBob McCormick (Medical Director) – Canadian Olympic CommitteeDory Boyer (Core Medical) – Canadian Olympic CommitteeDon McKenzie (Coach/Support Staff) – Canoe/Kayak*Met Olympic qualification, but team selection is pending.Rowing has the highest all-time UBC representation of all sports; 73 UBC athletes have brought home 45 medals in rowing.With files from UBC Public Affairs