Paige Crozon of Team Canada transforms Olympic impetus into a positive force – team Canada

Heywood Yu/COC

Paige Crozon. Therefore, accompanied by his Kacie Bosch teammates as well as the Katherine and Michelle Plouffe twins, conquered the heart of team fans by her determination: being the very first Olympic team in the country, his solid team link, and the special relationship that his daughter Poppy has with the whole team.

The title of Olympian athlete is added to an already full CV: she is director of the Living Skies indigenous paige crozon team canada transforms Basketball League. Furthermore, founder of One Sky Sports, coach at the University of Lethbridge, and, of course, Poppy’s mother.

But everything that Crozon does around a central conviction: the power of sport to transform lives.

On Olympique.ca, Crozon returns to his experience in Paris 2024, his community commitment, and the promising future of the 3 × 3 women in Canada.

What memories come to mind when you think of Paris 2024?

I remember our first entry on the field in a training match, seeing the Olympic rings. Moreover, Michelle. For example, Katherine and I, we just hugged because it was the goal we worked from the start: why we started the 3 × 3. Meanwhile, See the realization of all this journey … Therefore, It still gives me chills.

Then, we played against France, in France, at 10 p.m.: The match was full and I was made a fault. paige crozon team canada transforms However, I was on the line of free throws. Nevertheless, and everyone was hooked in Canadian fans, of course, but it was so strong. Meanwhile, After the match, Poppy was crying because the little boys next to her whistled her mother: she was so upset.

Then see the emotion and joy of my family … Furthermore, Any parent of sports child knows the sacrifices. However, but I had not really measured what my parents had given until I have poppy. Similarly, Not because they knew I would go to the games, but simply because it made me happy. Furthermore, Sharing this moment with them was exceptional. For example, My mother even wanted to be tattooed the Olympic rings. However, She was so proud.

How is life after the games?

This last year has been crazy. Before Paris, it was paige crozon team canada transforms a childhood dream to go there. Finish fourth was a little disappointing. After the games. we had to digest everything that happened, while managing a little disappointment: we left everything on the ground, but there is still a small injury to have missed the podium. It would have been an end of tale …

I was able to browse the country. share my passion from the 3 × 3 with young people, speak frankly about this disappointment, while redefining the resilience born of difficult experiences.

Tell me about your community commitment.

I am involved with the Living Skies Indigenous Basketball League. For a year. a half, we have noticed that, especially for young girls, to take the plunge to try a league like ours was difficult if they had never been exposed to sport. We therefore launched an initiative: going to rural. indigenous, disadvantaged or mixed schools, with students paige crozon team canada transforms of 5th and 6th year, leading basketball workshops and sharing my journey – not in a small town in Paris, the lessons learned.

We know that girls often stop sport at this age. The objective is to offer a fun, safe and encouraging environment where they can move and feel confident to continue.

It’s very enriching, and it allows me to transform Olympic disappointment into something carrier.

What do paige crozon team canada transforms you learn from this experience?

I hope children learn as much as I do. It’s sacred, these communities … Some are accessible only by ferry or plane. I was invited, and I have opened my heart: I was shared with life experiences, difficulties. Each community is unique, but there is a common thread: sport can empower, raise, give hope.

For example, in Bella Bella (C.-B.), each evening, 75 people-children of 2nd year to adults-play in basketball in the recreational center. It was beautiful: shared sport, woven in everyday life. I can also recognize myself, as a single -parent mother and passionate about sport.

Canada’s 3 × 3 team has evolved from Paris. How is it going with new recruits?

We have integrated new faces, and it is a fascinating process. Our sweet long -standing complicity has changed: it must be rebuilt. There have been challenges, adjustments, a lot of paige crozon team canada transforms communication.

At the Fiba 3 × 3 World Cup, with Saicha Grant -Allen and Cassandra Brown, we saw our progress in each match. At the start, there were natural frictions, but we never fled difficult conversations – and that’s how we build confidence.

Personally, the first games in the group phase were complicated: I had a different look on me. I had to find new ways to score points, to defend. I learned to trust the process, individually and collectively. The important thing is to never go up too high or go down too low, like in Paris.

Over the tournament, I progressed defensively. On the last day, the team had more chemistry; We started to really harmonize offensively. We are enthusiastic about building on this momentum.

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At the end of June, Crozon, Bosch, Grant -Allen and Brown won the bronze medal at the paige crozon team canada transforms FIBA 3 × 3 World Cup. Next meeting: Crozon will evolve at home, in Edmonton, during the FIBA 3 × 3 Women’s Series on August 1 and 2.