Canadian women's water polo team unveiled for Paris 2024 Olympics
Seven of the thirteen athletes were part of the team at Tokyo 2020.
Canada’s women’s water polo roster for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games was revealed on Thursday, with thirteen athletes selected to compete.
Seven of the thirteen athletes played for Canada at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games — Emma Wright, Axelle Crevier, Elyse Lemay-Lavoie, Hayley McKelvey, Kindred Paul, Shae La Roche, and Clara Vulpisi. Six will make their Olympic debuts — Verica Bakoc, Serena Browne, Jessica Gaudreault, Rae Lekness, Blaire McDowell, and Marilia Mimides.
All but La Roche and Mimides were part of the Canadian team that won a silver medal at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games — a result which Canada has had at each of the past six Pan Am Games tournaments, losing to the United States each time.
Canada placed seventh at the Tokyo Olympics.
‘’As a team we have been working very hard moving towards the Olympic Games,’’ said captain Emma Wright in a press release. “We have made lots of strides as a team and are hoping to be able to show that at the Games. We are getting more and more excited as the days count down!’’
Canada qualified for Paris 2024 at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships. The team initially missed out on the final Olympic spot after losing to Italy in the seventh-place classification match, but South Africa withdrew from the Olympics a few hours later, meaning eighth-place Canada were the next team up.
“The official selection of our team brings us closer to the beginning of the Olympic Games,” said Crevier, who is the daughter of Marie-Claude Deslières, who was on the first-ever Canadian women’s Olympic water polo team at Sydney 2000.
“We are very eager to begin the competition and are training tirelessly for Paris. In Paris, the atmosphere will definitely be different from Tokyo because we will have the chance to experience the Games with spectators, friends, and family.”
Paris 2024 will be the fourth time Canada will compete in women’s water polo tournament at the the Olympic Games. After participating in the first two women’s Olympic tournaments at Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004, Canada didn’t return until Tokyo 2020. The nation’s best result was during the sport’s Olympic debut in Sydney, where they finished fifth.
Women’s water polo will take place from July 27 to August 11 at the Aquatics Centre and Paris La Defense Arena.
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