The Paris 2024 Olympics witnessed Team Canada’s best-ever performance in a fully attended Olympic Summer Games. From the track’s blazing speed to the pool’s crystalline depths, Canadian athletes showcased refined excellence. There were star names like Andre De Grasse and Summer McIntosh, who stamped the authority of Canada, but there were new names like Ethan Katzberg and Camryn Rogers, who showcased Canada’s growing stature in the world of sports.
Canada underwent a significant transformation in athletic prowess, witnessing enhancements in various disciplines. This Olympics had old records reinstated, and new ones, like Canada’s rise in the medal tally. Let’s delve into the historical moments from the Paris Olympics for Team Canada.
Athletics 
The Canadian track and field team delivered a performance for the ages, you name it and they have earned it.
Canada’s men’s 4x100m quartet Aaron Brown, Brendon Rodney, Jerome Blake and anchor Andre De Grasse stunned us all with their thrilling gold finish despite a 50 to 1 outcry. A record-tying seventh Olympic medal for Andre De Grasse in his seventh appearance, matching Penny Oleksiak for most medals won by Canadian athletes, added to the historical moments.
Meanwhile, Macro Arop won a historic silver medal in the men’s 800 meters after a long haul of 60 years. Along with him were the Canadian duo Evan Dunfee and Ollivia Lundman, who clocked the best time in history of 3:04:57 on the inaugural mixed marathon race walk relay. Despite a medal miss they are persistent to come back stronger in 2028.
With Ethan Katzberg in Paris, a 120-year medal drought came to an end in men’s hammer throw. With the only athlete to cross the 80m mark, the youngest gold medalist made not just one but two historic moments for Canada.
Following in his footsteps, Camryn Rogers brought another gold medal to the bag, a feat previously unattainable since the inaugural of the Olympic torch at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics. Their feat was one of only three pairs to win both the men’s and women’s hammer throw titles in a single Olympics.
Canoe/Kayak – Sprint
Katie Vincent has become synonymous with Canadian dominance in water sports. The Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist made history in more ways than one. She not only reclaimed the bronze with Melissa Humana-Paredes but also finished in a historic way. Vincent broke the world record with 44.12 seconds in the women’s C-1 200m on day 15 and finished first. Making history by becoming the first Canadian woman to win any canoe or kayak race, raising the bar for her opponents. She surpassed Canada’s 24 medal haul at the Tokyo Olympics with her win giving more reasons for the crowd to celebrate.
Swimming
Pool mirrored track’s brilliance by bagging half of the team’s medals in Paris, but Summer Mclntosh, is a name that will echo through Canadian sporting history for a lifetime. Her triple gold haul in 200m butterfly, 200m IM, and 400m IM was the epitome of youthful exuberance and athletic prowess. Marking not one but many historical moments for Canada.
By her side was Kylie Masse, a veteran of the pool who continues her reign as a stalwart of Canadian swimming. She has a bronze to her name in the 200m backstroke.
Her third appearance made her the only Canadian to win individual medals at three consecutive Olympic Games.
There had been decades of expectations for Canada’s men’s swimming contingent, but this year marked a breakthrough. The journey from Ilyan Khuran’s gold medal in 200m butterfly to a double podium triumph with Josh Liendo at the Olympics, was a moment of joy last shed in Montreal in 1976. Added to the celebration was the fact that Josh Liendo was Canada’s first black medalist at the Olympics.
Fencing
The fencing piste witnessed a Canadian ambush with Elanor Harvey’s ravishing swings and techniques. With Canada’s first-ever Olympic medal in the individual foil event she spurred her bronze with a joy of gold.
Accompanied by Jessica Guo and Yunja Zhang who were edged out of the medal contention by a narrow margin. However, the combined result was the best in Canada’s history. In spite of the fact that Canada lost medals in the men’s individual fencing event, Fares Afra’s performance was acclaimed as Canada’s best Olympic result in any men’s event ever.
Tennis
The tennis court echoed with celebratory roars as Felix Auger Aliassime and Gaby Dabrowski clinched Canada’s first Olympic tennis medal. Paris’ rainy weather made for a slick start, but the duo had it covered leading to a historic bronze finish.
Felix Auger-Aliassime narrowly missed a double-podium finish, showcasing exceptional doubles abilities but falling short in the singles competition. Contributing to Canada’s best performance so far was Lelah Annie Fernandez, who despite a brawl fight lost to reach quarter finals.
Judo
Judo, a sport often overshadowed, found its Canadian moment with Christa Deguchi’s gold in women’s 57kg bout. Keeping the watchers on toe with her unmatched skills on the mat, she ignited a spark of inspiration for a new generation of Canadian judokas.
3×3 Basketball
A game off the radar from Canada’s Olympic regime has now found a foundation. From a treacherous journey to Paris to a match played from finger to bone, they took it all gracefully. Michelle Plouffe, Katherine Plouffe, Kacie Bouche and Paige Crozon despite a close medal finish would leave Canada’s historic maiden appearance without a medal.
Basketball
Canada’s men’s basketball team entered the Paris Olympics with a star-studded roster and sky-high expectations. Having been absent from the Olympic stage for almost two decades, the team’s return was highly anticipated.
Three consecutive victories reignited hopes of winning a medal for the first time since 1936. Despite these ambitions, a quarterfinal loss to the host nation left a bittersweet taste to an otherwise historic campaign whose maiden victory marked a historic win.
Click HERE for the Medal Tally
