At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Canadian athletes seem to be setting records left and right and everyone seems to be writing a new chapter in the history books for Canada in the Olympics. On the 9th day of the mega event, on the 9th day of the mega event, Ethan Katzberg ended the 112-year-long drought for Canada in hammer throw, but that wasn’t the only drought to be broken that day. Wyatt Sanford rolled back history in boxing for Canada as he won the first medal at the Olympics after 28 years.
Even though Stanford would’ve loved to have won gold or silver at the Paris 2024 Olympic, his French boxer Sofiane Oumiha won the semi-final by a 4-1 split decision. Oumiha was on point with his footwork in the semifinal, which started on a tough note for Kennetcook. Even though Stanford won the last round with four out of five judges in his favor, the French boxer won the first and second rounds, which was enough for victory. 
Sanford told The Star, “It may not have been our decision” — he knew as much from the final ring of the bell — “but it was a great fight. It was back and forth and I couldn’t be happier with it.”
After competing at Tokyo Olympics where he placed 17th, Wyatt Sanford worked hard to prepare for the Paris 2024 campaign after shedding his weight class from 69kg to 63.5kg for his Paris campaign.
After guaranteeing his medal on Thursday when he qualified for semis Stanford said to Daily Hive: “I’m on top of the world,”
“We’re finally, after 28 years of a drought, we’re bringing a medal home to Canada.”
History repeats itself at the Paris 2024 Olympics
The success of Wyatt Sanford could be the turning point for the amateur boxing scene in Canada, which is currently struggling. With the last medal the boxing scene had bagged by David Defiagbon in the heavyweight class in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, the boxing scene did not seem to be on the rise, especially with Pro Boxing being the primary focus.
With the next Olympics in LA which will be attended by large Canadian crowds, Wyatt Sanford’s medal will definitely rekindle the buzz for boxing with new fans.
In spite of the fact that Wyatt Sanford lost the match, the magnitude of this match was big for Canada with hundreds of fans gathering at Findley Park for the special screening of their hometown boy’s match. The 2024 Olympic Games in Paris appear to be an auspicious year for the Canadian team, as they strive to extend their unprecedented consecutive victories.
For more updates, stay tuned to WSG.
