As the countdown to the 2024 Olympics in picturesque Paris enters its final months, athletes are hoping for smooth sailings—knowing that the tiniest hiccup could mean the difference between winning a gold medal and leaving France empty-handed.
An intriguing aspect of any Olympic season is watching the bookmakers scramble to set odds on events seldom spotlighted in other competitions.
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The unique mix of sports presented offers a golden opportunity for fans of less-publicized disciplines to potentially capitalize on their knowledge.
Team Canada made quite a splash at the 2020 Tokyo Games, nabbing seven gold, seven silver, and ten bronze medals, summing up a total of 24—an impressive feat reminiscent of the 1984 Los Angeles Games, aided by the absence of Soviet and East German teams.
The upcoming 2024 Games in Paris could witness Canada upping its medal tally, thanks to a formidable team set to compete. Let’s explore some of Canada's prime candidates for snagging gold.
Despite the world’s elongated wait for the Tokyo Olympics, it was worth every moment for Team Canada. A bounty of 24 medals marked a sensational run, with 381 athletes participating across 30 sports.
Athletics and swimming took the spotlight with six medals each, totals that 2024's lineup aims to surpass. Particularly in swimming, the Canadian team seems poised to outdo their past achievements leading up to Paris.
The Canadian contingent bagged two medals in cycling, canoeing, rowing, and judo, with single medals in football, weightlifting, diving, and softball. Although softball won’t feature in Paris 2024, it’s worth noting that breaking will debut, with high hopes for Canadian success.
Fifty-seven athletes constituted the track and field team in Tokyo, bringing home six medals, including two golds. Andre De Grasse shone with his success in the men’s 200m and contributed to the 4x100m relay silver.
Canada's prowess in decathlon is evident with Damian Warner and Pierre LePage emerging as top contenders. Warner clinched gold in Tokyo while LePage topped the podium at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest.
Marco Arop triumphed in the 800m at the Budapest Worlds, setting a national record in Eugene last year. Although Tokyo saw him fall short of the final, his ongoing development positions him firmly as a medal prospect.
Mohammed Ahmed, with his Tokyo silver in the 5000m, despite placing 5th and 6th in subsequent World Championships, remains a formidable contender, drawing on past successes.
In field events, Canada’s leading hopes are Ethan Katzberg, Camryn Rogers, and Sarah Mitton. Katzberg's gold in the men’s hammer at the 2023 World Championships at just 21 is particularly promising.
Evan Dunfee, the bronze medallist in the men's 50km walk in Tokyo, faces an adjustment as that event is absent in Paris, pushing him to tackle the 20km walk instead.
At the 2023 Pan American Games, Brian Yang and Josephine Wu achieved memorable feats in badminton. Yang, who didn’t progress past group stages in Tokyo, has shown significant improvement since.
For the first time, breaking will make its Olympic debut, thrilling fans at the renowned Place de la Concorde, where Canada’s Phil Wizard (Philip Kim) leads the charge as a prime gold medal candidate.
In canoeing, Katie Vincent's bronze in Tokyo's C2 500m, despite her partner's retirement, demonstrates her continued strength. Newly paired with Sloan MacKenzie, they achieved bronze at the 2023 Canoe Sprint World Cup.
From the largest cycling team Canada ever sent to an Olympics—comprised of 24 athletes—Kelsey Mitchell’s gold in the women’s sprint was a defining moment, with pursuit teams poised for further success in Paris.
Gunnar Holmgren and Jennifer Jackson’s mountain biking golds at the 2023 Pan American Games highlight their potential, yet the increased competition of the Olympics demands a further step up.
Though golf was sporadic at the Olympics, its return in 2016 paved the way for Canada’s chances hinging on Corey Connors and Nick Taylor, both prominent figures on the global stage.
Ellie Black, in her fourth Olympic appearance, helped the Canadian women's team reach the Games with a 2022 World Championships bronze, poised to leverage her experience once more.
At just 21, Felix Dolci is the reigning Pan American Games champion, performing admirably at the World Championships—poised and ready to make further strides toward Olympic podium aspirations.
Zachary Clay, celebrated for his historic gold on the pommel horse in Santiago, aims to sustain that momentum as 2024 unfolds.
In judo, Jessica Klimkait's Tokyo bronze and continued success position her as a strong medal contender alongside world number one Christa Deguchi, her friend and Canadian rival.
Deguchi cemented her place as a top-tier judo competitor with her 2023 World Championships title, promising a riveting contest for Canadian dominance during the Paris Games.
Canada's Women’s Eight rowing gold in Tokyo marked a triumph as rowing stands among the country’s most productive Olympic sports, with anticipation mounting for their Paris representatives.
With six swimming medals in Tokyo, Canada aims even higher as Maggie MacNeil excels, poised to shine in Paris after dominating 2023’s Pan American Games.
Kylie Masse's dual medals in Tokyo underscore her objective of enhancing her legacy amidst challenging circumstances in Paris.
A standout of Canada’s 2024 Olympic hopes is Summer McIntosh, the teenage prodigy destined to capture hearts and medals as she continues her stunning trajectory.
Penny Oleksiak, Canada’s most decorated Olympian, eyes further relay achievements in Paris, despite injury-riddled preparations.
Canada’s unexpected Tokyo women’s soccer gold serves as the foundation for rallying post-World Cup challenges, with Olympic pedigree driving aspirations.
Laylah Fernandez emerges as a medal hopeful on the clay courts of Paris 2024, her recent exploits hinting at a significant campaign.
Her journey to Roland Garros’s quarter-finals in singles and a double finals appearance reflect Fernandez’s capability to go deep in major tournaments, with Paris’s clay courts tantalizingly suited to her style.
Maude Charron added another milestone to her impressive weightlifting career by clinching gold in Tokyo in the 64 kg category. Her track record includes two Commonwealth golds and a couple more from the Pan American Championships, highlighting her as a leading athlete. A future medal in Paris would further solidify her legacy.
The anticipation is high for Canada to outdo their previous tally of 24 medals at the Tokyo Games when the Paris event rolls around. While the expected increase isn't dramatic, hopes are set on achieving around 27 or 28 medals, with aspirations of securing eight of those as gold.
Capturing a spot in the top 10 of the Olympic medal tally is the dream for Canada, reminiscent of the 1984 Games, despite some notable absences that year. There's a unique sense of pride and excitement in cheering on our athletes as they bring home medals, and this year's competition promises exactly that.
