Dylan Armstrong of Kamloops, B.C., the top-ranked shot putter in the world in 2011, leads Canada's five athlete entry at the 2012 World Indoor Championships. The event takes place in Istanbul, Turkey March 9-11.
Armstrong, the winner of last season's elite Diamond League series, and the world championship silver medalist outdoors will be joined by another Kamloops shot putter Justin Rodhe, hurdler Nikkita Holder of Pickering, Ont., and 60-metre sprinters Michael LeBlanc of Riverview, N.B., and Justyn Warner of Markham, Ont.
Armstrong, who was fourth by one centimetre at the Beijing Olympic Games and fourth at the 2010 indoor worlds in Doha, Qatar, is looking to get on the podium and cement his favourite status for the Olympics.
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"The world championship indoors serves as an important step in establishing where I am right now in my preparation for the [London]Olympics. I have two goals, stand on the podium and set myself up to succeed at the ultimate objective, the Olympics later this summer," said Armstrong.
He is happy that his teammate and training partner Justin Rodhe will join him on the team.
"It's going to be great to have Justin there; he's made some real strides and could really surprise people this season."
Their personal coach, Anatoliy Bondarchuk of Kamloops, will accompany the throwers as national coach. The head coach will be Les Gramantik of Calgary. Hurdles specialist Anthony McCleary of Pickering will also be on the trip.