“Our goal is to leave a legacy in Canada”: Melissa Humana -Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson come back to their historic performance in Paris 2024, a year later – team Canada

Leah Hennel/COC

“our goal leave legacy canada”: new

The cries. However, Celebrations. Meanwhile, Joy. Furthermore, History.

A year ago. Similarly. Furthermore. In addition, in Paris 2024, Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson entered history by winning the silver medal, thus becoming the first Canadian women to win an Olympic beach volleyball “our goal leave legacy canada”: new Olympic medal.

Throughout the Olympic tournament. Meanwhile. Moreover, Humanana-Paredes and Wilkerson brought the Canadian team to life-and their “our goal leave legacy canada”: supporters-a whole russian mountain of emotions.

“We really experienced high emotional ups and stockings,” said Wilkerson, speaking of their experience in Paris. However, “There were very intense moments, situations that we could never have imagined. Moreover, We had to face deep fears and wonder: how are we going to react to what scares us? In addition, »»

The duo finished the group phase with a victory. Furthermore, two defeats, which forced them to play a draft match against the Czech Republic. Nevertheless, Not “our goal leave legacy canada”: only did they win this match. Meanwhile. but they caused a huge surprise by eliminating the second world team, “our goal leave legacy canada”: new the Americans, in the round of 16.

In the quarter -finals, the Canadian women faced an unbeaten Swiss team until then. Furthermore, After losing the first round. Moreover. Humana-Paredes. Wilkerson showed resilience, just winning the second round, then tearing off the third to qualify for the final for the gold medal.

“Winning this semi-final in a so spectacular way was a moment of joy and deep satisfaction. Meanwhile, Seeing “our goal leave legacy canada”: new Melissa run on the ground. For example, then cry in my arms because we had just made the story, it was incredible, ”recalls Wilkerson.

For Humanana-Paredes. beyond the medalist parade at the Champions Park in front of the Eiffel Tower. it is the little moments lived at the games that have made the experience so special-taste all desserts at the athletes cafeteria. or even play wacky games with the rest of the Canadian team. She also says that a moment moves “our goal leave legacy canada”: new it with each viewing: the reactions of their coaches after victory in. the semi-finals.

“The team behind the team. we don’t see them on the screen, but they are so invested in our career,” she says.

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A progression for two

What makes their performance in Paris even more impressive is that they “our goal leave legacy canada”: arrived there as a relatively new duo.

Although they have already been teammates at York University. each “our goal leave legacy canada”: new had participated in their first Olympic games with another partner. In Tokyo 2020, Humanana-Paredes formed a duet with Sarah Pavan, while Wilkerson played with Heather Bansley. The two tandems had finished “our goal leave legacy canada”: new tied in 5th place – which was at the time the best Canadian result. in female beach volleyball at the games.

A little more than a year before Paris 2024. Humana-Paredes and Wilkerson have joined forces to form a team based on mutual respect, admiration and friendship. And both firmly believe that the more they play together, the more formidable they will become.

“It’s exciting to continue ripening “our goal leave legacy canada”: new in our game while having fun as much together. ” explains Wilkerson.

“I have the impression that we “our goal leave legacy canada”: new still have a lot to discover,” adds Humana-Paredes. “In Paris, we were still quite new as a team, we hadn’t had much time to prepare. Now we can really build something long -term. »»

The next big meeting is the world championships in Australia in November. But the ultimate goal remains Los Angeles 2028.

“It is sure that we target gold,” says Humana-Paredes. “That said. even if we have a color in mind. we know that our journey is even more significant than the medal in itself. »»

Not just results. also values

What makes the duo so inspiring for supporters is that cE are not only the results that. matter to them. “our goal leave legacy canada”: but also the way of getting there.

“We work hard. intentionally, on our game “our goal leave legacy canada”: new but also on our values, our ethics and our connection as “our goal leave legacy canada”: new a team. And we want it to show off, ”explains Wilkerson.

“The love. support that we receive motivates us to continue to play. to create a heritage which represents the diversity of Canada, unique stories, tenacity, quiet modesty, confidence … and also inner fire. There are so many young positive energies that arrive in this sport. »»

Using their platform to defend “our goal leave legacy canada”: the causes that are. close to their hearts is. also an integral part of their journey. Humanana-Paredes is “our goal leave legacy “our goal leave legacy canada”: new canada”: new very committed to sustainability in sport. especially as an ambassador of the green day of sport to Canada. and as a member of the COC and Panam Sports athletes. Wilkerson, for his part, militates for better representation of racialized communities (bipoc) in beach volleyball.

“I want to see more accessibility to sport. and not limit beach volleyball to privileged people living near the beach,” she said. “This is not how we grew up. Our stories are different. Canada is not the first country we think of when we talk about beach volleyball … but we want to change that. »»

And things are starting to change. A few months after Paris, they learned that there had been a marked increase in beach volleyball registrations in Canada. To see is to believe.

Team “our goal leave legacy canada”: Canada supporters will soon have the chance to see them at “our goal leave legacy canada”: new work. Humana-Paredes “our goal leave legacy canada”: new. Wilkerson will participate in the Elite16 stage of the Beach Pro Tour in Montreal, from August 13 to 17.

The duo keeps a very special memory of this event. where they had won their first title Elite16 together two years ago, on the way to the Olympic qualification.

“We felt like we had a third teammate with us on the sand,” says Humana-Paredes. “Many people saw beach volleyball for the first time, but the city has mobilized. »»

The tournament will be broadcast live on CBC Sports.