TLAXCALA CITY 鈥� Canada struck gold in men's and women's beach volleyball on Sunday 鈥� along with some continental participant passes to the 2024 Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The men's and women's teams claimed top spot in the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Mexico.
Heather Bansley of Waterdown, Ont., and Sophie Bukovec of Toronto, who have been playing together for just under a year, were undefeated in the tournament and won the women鈥檚 gold.
In Sunday's final, Bansley and Bukovec beat Atenas Gutierrez and Susana Torres of Mexico 2-0 (21-16, 21-17).
This will be Bansley鈥檚 third Olympics (2016, 2020), but now with new playing partner and first-timer Bukovec.
鈥淚鈥檓 just really proud. We came here with the goal of qualifying for Paris and we accomplished just that,鈥� said Bansley.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a crazy 11 months for our team and it鈥檚 incredible that we were able to qualify. I鈥檓 so proud of Sophie. 鈥� If you asked me a year ago if we would be here, it was probably a crazy dream. It鈥檚 incredible."
Samuel Schachter of Richmond Hill, Ont., and Daniel Dearing of Toronto defeated Mexico鈥檚 Juan Virgen and Ricardo Galindo 2-0 (21-13, 21-13) in Sunday's gold-medal final.
鈥淲e played with a lot of joy today, I actually enjoyed the game,鈥� said Schachter. 鈥淲e were in the moment. 鈥� This was a team win, and we had so much support.
"Today, we were really able to focus on the right things and were able to manage the moment. I can鈥檛 wait to represent our country.鈥� Schachter previously played in 2016 in Rio with then-beach partner Josh Binstock. Though Dearing will be an Olympic newcomer, he is a Commonwealth Games silver medallist with Schachter. Three beach teams are now qualified for Canada. Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson had already secured a berth via their solid position in the women's World Rankings. The beach teams will be officially part of Team Canada when nominated and announced by the Canadian Olympic Committee (official team announcement still to come).
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 23, 2024.
The Canadian Press
