Ottawa – With fewer than 50 days until the Paris 2024 Olympic Games begin, Canadian athletes are shining on the world stage and claiming their spots on Team Canada.
Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson capped off the beach volleyball Olympic qualification period with their second podium performance of the year. Ellie Black is on the verge of making Canadian Olympic history after winning her eighth national all-around title. Derek Gee had a big career breakthrough at the most notable warm-up stage race for the Tour de France, while Sarah Mitton continues to be the woman to beat in shot put.
Beach Volleyball: Melissa & Brandie take Elite 16 silver in Ostrava
Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson took home silver from the Beach Pro Tour Elite 16 stop in Ostrava, Czechia. The Canadian duo fell to Americans Kelly Cheng and Sara Hughes in a close final, after not having dropped a set in the five matches leading up to it. Their road to the final included triumphs over World No. 9-ranked Latvian team Tina Graudina and Anastasija Samoilova in the semifinals and World No. 11-ranked Italian pair Valentina Gottardi, and Marta Megatti in the quarterfinals.
Despite being overpowered by Cheng and Hughes in the first set, Humana-Paredes and Wilkerson rallied to take the second set 23-21. Ultimately, the U.S. attack was too powerful, as the Canadians dropped the final set 15-12.