Paris 2024 | Some Quebec athletes already qualified

In less than 90 days, athletes, coaches and journalists will pack their bags and fly to the City of Lights for the Olympic Games. While we still don’t know the number of athletes who will represent Quebec, a few have already confirmed their place, officially or unofficially. Here are seven of them.

Boxing: Tammara Thibeault

Here is a hope of a medal. “I’m going there to win gold. I want to write history,” said Tammara Thibeault to The Press1^er last November. The boxer from Shawinigan, who will take part in her second Olympic Games in the under 75 kg category, could become the first to win a Canadian Olympic medal in boxing in 27 years. She would also be the first Canadian female medalist in boxing history. Remember that she lost in the quarter-finals in Tokyo in 2021. This time, says the one who wins everything in her path, she is coming to the Games with more maturity and experience. It promises.

Fencing: Pamela Brind’Amour

Pamela Brind’Amour, who is currently at 36^e world rank, obtained the only quota reserved for the America zone in sabre. The fencer won silver in the team saber competition at the last Pan American Games. The native of Saint-Martine has come a long way; While on track to qualify for the 2021 Tokyo Games, she tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee. Here she is back and ready for her first Games. In a recent article, colleague Simon Drouin told us that Brind’Amour had bet everything to get to Paris; it is she who assumes her costs of training, travel, equipment, etc. Since 2022, we are talking about $40,000.

Artistic swimming: Jacqueline Simoneau

After Rio and Tokyo, Jacqueline Simoneau will be in Paris to take part in her third Olympic Games. She will compete in a duo with her teammate Audrey Lamothe, who is only 19 years old. Simoneau retired quietly after the Tokyo Games, but she decided, two years later, to return to competition. In February, she was crowned world champion in free solo. His big dream: to win an Olympic medal. Will she get there?

Diving: Nathan Zsombor-Murray

In Tokyo, during his first Olympic Games, Nathan Zsombor-Murray finished 5^e in the 10 m synchro with Vincent Riendeau and 13^e, one position from the final, in the individual event. In Paris, the diver from Pointe-Claire will compete in the 10m synchro alongside Rylen Wiens, from Saskatchewan. The duo won a bronze medal at the 2022 World Championships and a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games. For the first time since Alexandre Despatie in 2004 and 2008, Canada can hope for an Olympic podium in men’s diving. Note that Zsombor-Murray still wishes to add the individual event to his program; The Canadian Olympic Trials take place in Windsor in mid-May.

Weightlifting: Maude Charron

It’s not official, but it’s unofficial. Maude Charron will participate in her second Olympic Games this summer. Last month, the weightlifter won the bronze medal at the Phuket World Cup, the final event of the under-59kg Olympic qualification process. She also broke a Canadian record by lifting a total of 236 kg. [Être] medal[ée] in this competition was like winning in the Olympics,” she wrote on Instagram. In Paris, Charron will try to win a second Olympic medal, she who won gold in the under 64 kg category in Tokyo. She had to change categories during the last Olympic cycle since hers was removed from the program.

Basketball: Luguentz Dort

The members of the Canadian men’s basketball team are not yet officially known, but there is no reason why Quebecer Luguentz Dort should not be part of it. The men’s team earned their spot by defeating Spain at the FIBA ​​World Cup last September. This is the first to achieve this since the Sydney Games in 2000. Luguentz Dort is currently taking part in the NBA playoffs with his team, the Oklahoma City Thunder, of which he is one of the pillars in defense.

Table tennis: Edward Ly

At 21, Montreal table tennis player Edward Ly will participate in his first Olympic Games. Ly surprised everyone by becoming, last January, the first Canadian to win the Pan-American Cup. A feat, especially since he appeared in this competition as a replacement for another Canadian. His triumph gave him a significant jump in the world rankings – he is currently at 36^e rank – and allowed him to participate in his first World Cup.