Canada’s complicated Olympic selection process explained by the head coach

Canada’s Olympic selection process in athletics has been a hot topic lately. It’s getting a lot of play this week especially with the ongoing national track and field championships in Edmonton.

Much of the talk stems from a portion of the criteria that states that athletes who achieved the Olympic standard in 2015 must show a level of “competitive readiness” in 2016.

Peter Eriksson, the head coach of Athletics Canada, explained that requirement in an interview on July 7 at the championships in Edmonton. The underlying message: it gives the governing body flexibility to choose athletes based on their current ability to make the semifinals or finals in their event(s) in Rio. The Games begin Aug. 5.

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“The idea is to be able to show on the day that you are ready,” says Eriksson. “If you made the [Olympic] standard in 2015, [competitive readiness is meant to show] that you are ready in 2016 to perform at an equal or better level than you were able to in 2015.”

His comments on competitive readiness begin at the 1:58 mark of the above video.

“That [not meeting competitive readiness] doesn’t mean you can’t be selected,” Eriksson continues. “You can still be selected.” Eriksson explains that the toughness of the Olympic standard also comes into play as some events are deeper than others and as such have tougher entry standards. It’s not a miss-it-and-you’re-out type scenario.

He admits that “in a way” it “leaves the doors open” for the governing body, including Eriksson, to use its discretion when selecting the official travelling team. The final team announcement is set for July 11, the day after the competition concludes.

RELATED: Krista DuChene reflects on proof of fitness requirement despite having Olympic standard.

According to Eriksson, 22 of the 75 athletes who have the Olympic standard have a competitive readiness program that was discussed between Eriksson and each individual athlete. That’s the extent of what we know in regards to who has the program and what it entails.

RELATED: Canada’s fastest-ever 10,000m man in serious jeopardy of missing Olympic team.

For athletes who have achieved the standard and who finish outside of the top-two in their respective events, they may or may not be nominated by Athletics Canada. If an athletes has the Olympic standard and finish top-two, you automatically qualify for the Rio Games, no questions asked.

Read an example of how the criteria is being applied to the men’s and women’s 5,000m races.