- All six athletes returning from
Parapan Am Games champion team
- Paris 2024 Paralympic Games takes place August 28 to September 8
OTTAWA,
ON, June 18, 2024 /CNW/ - A team of six
athletes has been nominated to represent Canada in the women's goalball tournament at
the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, the Canadian Paralympic Committee
and Canadian Blind Sports Association announced Tuesday.
Paris 2024 Canadian Paralympic Team – GOALBALL
- Brieann Baldock –
Edmonton, AB
- Whitney Bogart –
Marathon, ON
- Amy Burk – Charlottetown,
PEI
- Meghan Mahon – Timmins, ON
- Emma Reinke – St. Thomas, ON
- Maryam Salehizadeh –
Vancouver, BC
All six women have consistently competed for Canada over the past several years, also
comprising the roster for the 2023 Parapan Am Games, 2022 world
championships, and 2020 Paralympic Games.
The team is led by Amy Burk, who
will be competing at her fifth Paralympic Games (2008, 2012, 2016,
2020, 2024).
"Being named to the Canadian team is a huge honour," said Burk.
"Paris will be my fifth Games and it's just as exciting at my
first. Our team has come a long way from our disappointing
ninth-place finish in Tokyo; we
have worked so hard and have proven it to ourselves that we can
perform on the biggest stage. This is a great team to be a
part of and I know we will give it our all and fight until the very
end.
"We are a small team but in Paris we are a part of something so much
bigger, we are a part of Team Canada. Not only are we playing
for ourselves, but we are playing for our families, our friends,
and every Canadian from coast to coast to coast."
Bogart will be participating in her fourth Games, followed by
Mahon at her third. Baldock, Reinke, and Salehizadeh will be making
their second Paralympic appearances.
"I am so excited for our team's opportunity in Paris," said Bogart. "We have worked so hard
on and off the court to earn our spot at the Games. I am honoured
to have been selected to represent Canada and to be with such an amazing group of
athletes."
"I am honoured to represent Canada in Paris this summer!" said Reinke. "I am looking
forward to the high performance and community environment while the
team pushes for a medal finish."
The squad secured its place at the Paralympic Games with a gold
medal at the Santiago 2023 Parapan Am Games last November. With
only one qualification spot for the Americas available,
Canada needed to win the
tournament for a ticket to Paris.
Bronze medallists at the three prior Parapan Am Games, the team
ousted their two closest rivals en route to the championship –
Brazil 4-2 in the semifinals and
USA 4-3 in the final.
At the Tokyo Games three years
ago, Canada did not advance out of
the group stage but finished fourth a year later at the 2022 world
championships. They are currently ranked sixth in the world.
Canada will compete in Pool B
of the women's tournament alongside Japan (world No. 2), South Korea (No. 15), and host France (No. 18). Preliminary rounds take place
August 29 to September 1. Elimination
games start with the quarterfinals on September 3 followed by the semifinals
September 4 and medal matches
September 5.
The team will be looking for Canada's first medal in the sport of goalball
since 2004, when the nation captured its second consecutive gold
medal in the women's tournament. Canada also has two silver medals from 1996
(men) and 1984 (women). The men's team did not qualify for
Paris.
"I am so thrilled to officially welcome Amy, Whitney, Meghan,
Maryam, Emma, and Brieann to the Paris 2024 Canadian Paralympic
Team," said Karolina Wisniewska,
co-chef de mission, Paris 2024 Canadian Paralympic Team. "This is
such an experienced, proven, and prepared team, and I know they
have big goals for the Games. I can't wait for them to take the
spotlight in Paris and I'm looking
forward to cheering them on."
"This team's gold medal was one of Canada's major highlights of the Parapan Am
Games last year," said Josh Vander Vies, co-chef de mission, Paris
2024 Canadian Paralympic Team. "Goalball is such a dynamic sport,
unique to the Paralympic Games, and it will be so exciting to watch
the team compete once again in Paris. Congratulations to all six athletes on
their many accomplishments so far, and we will be there to support
them this summer."
The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games will take place August 28 to September 8 in Paris, France. Canada is expecting to send a team of
approximately 140 athletes.
Prior to being officially named to the Canadian Paralympic Team,
all nominations are subject to approval by the Canadian Paralympic
Committee. The current list of nominated athletes can be found
HERE. The approved final roster will be announced closer to the
start of the Games.
About the Canadian Paralympic Committee:
Paralympic.ca
About Canadian Blind Sports Association:
CanadianBlindSports.ca
SOURCE Canadian Paralympic Committee (Sponsorships)