As the summer Paris Olympics 2024 is set to take over this world from this Friday, the Canadian team has arrived in the athletes’ village with high hopes. They are all set to make the nation proud with 315 athletes and 22 accredited, all clad in fiery maple leaf red. Canada has been shown a strong front in the games, with 142 previously competed athletes at Olympic Games 2020 coming to Paris.
Canada’s team is loaded with star athletes, including swimming star Penny Oleksiak, Maggie Mac Neil, and women’s hammer throw world champion Camryn Rogers. This year will mark a new adventure for the Canadian team as it debuted in 3-on-3 basketball, BMX freestyle, and surfing. With the baggage of big expectations, the Canadian team has much to prove. Here, we delve into five contenders primed to paint the podium maple leaf red.
#5. Summer McIntosh – Swimming
Save Summer Mcintosh’s individual race schedule at #Paris2024! 🏊♂️ Don’t miss her incredible performances! #Swimming pic.twitter.com/kERUal36mL
— World Aquatics (@WorldAquatics) July 23, 2024
Summer McIntosh, who was just 14, made headlines at the 2020 Summer Olympics as the youngest member of Team Canada. Although she missed a podium spot by one spot on her debut in the 400-meter freestyle, she has come a long way.As the world record holder in the grueling 400m individual medley, the Toronto sensation has been on a meteoric rise since Tokyo, winning four medals in the 2022 and 2023 World Championships.
In the years since, the prodigy has been regarded as the heir apparent to Canada’s most decorated Olympian, Penny Oleksiak. Having a divine guarding mama bear who knows the Olympic woods well, Mclnotch has an edge over others but all our bets on her undoubted talent. McIntosh is a huge favorite to win gold in individual and relay events like 200-meter butterfly and 400-meter individual medley.
#4. Brian Yang – Badminton
It is now time for Brian Yang to add more to his history rewriting. The 21-year-old is one of the world’s top 25 badminton players. He broke records for the youngest national singles champion, junior champion, and U23 champion.
His recent gold at the Pan American Games has raised hopes for his chances to reach the podium outside national borders. Known for his lightning-fast reflexes and deceptive smashes, he poses a threat in singles and doubles.
#3. Brian Yang (Hammer Throw)
Upon entering the field, Ethan Katzberg fades into the background as the crowd’s roar fades into the distance. After winning at Budapest, Katzberg broke Pawel Fajdek’s five-year winning streak. He became the first Canadian to win a world title in the hammer throw by beating the Polish thrower by 23 centimeters.
Having become the first Canadian to surpass 80 meters is just the beginning. It would be Katzberg’s greatest accomplishment to break the 112 year curse for the team this year. This year, he is a huge favorite to win the Olympic gold with one of the four best throws in the world, and has won 13 events over 80 meters.
2. Damian Warner (Decathlon)
Damian Warner, the reigning World Champion in decathlon, is a physical marvel. As the fourth-highest decathlon total in history (9,018) behind Roman Sebrle (9,026), he is undoubtedly making this year’s Olympics his own. Despite competing in one of the toughest disciplines known for being an ultimate test of athleticism, he seems pretty confident with his good form.
The time has come not just to take another Olympic gold medal but to surpass all expectations as well. After winning in front of an empty stadium in Tokyo due to COVID-19, the ten-in-one wonder is eager to compete in front of a full house at Paris 2024.
#1. Philip Kim (Break Dance)
Each edition of the Olympics has new opportunities and challenges to be overcome. The 2024 Paris Olympics will see the electrifying debut of breakdancing, where Canadians seem to have an edge. As one of the best-breaking artists in the world, Philip Kim, known as B-Boy Phil Wizard, will represent the New York City-born art.
His street curiosity is turning into a dream come true as he turns his street curiosity into an Olympic medal dream. A familiar name to the podium at the World Championships, the Olympic B-Boy is expected to take home another gold.
