Montgomery makes Canadian history

TORONTO (CP) -- Carol Montgomery will be the first Canadian woman to compete in two different sports at the same Olympics after being selected for the 10,000 metres on Wednesday.

The North Vancouver resident, already a medal contender in triathlon, will also compete in the 10,000 at the Sydney Games in September. The two events are only nine days apart.

Montgomery had appealed to Athletics Canada for selection in the 10,000 after meeting the Olympic standard at a race in April. She joins Jeff Schiebler, Tina Connelly and Sean Kaley as Canada's entries in the 10,000.

The 34-year-old Montgomery almost lost her leg last December but now is considered a gold-medal contender for the first event of the Sydney Olympics, the women's triathlon.

Following an operation in Decmber, after some intense rehab, Montgomery bounced back to win the Rio de Janeiro World Cup triathlon in March and gained an Olympic berth.

The women's triathlon, which includes a 1.5-kilometre swim, a 40-kilometre cycle, and a 10-kilometre run is first event of the Olympic Games and will be carried live in prime time on CBC in Canada.

She was second at the world triathlon championships this year, won last Saturday's World Cup Toronto Triathlon.