Canada leans on water polo captain Emma Wright in quest for best Olympic finish since 2000
Team captain Emma Wright will lead Canada’s women’s water polo team at the upcoming Paris Olympics.
Water Polo Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee announced the team’s roster Thursday.
Canada qualified for Paris following the 2024 World Aquatics Championships.
The Canadians appeared to have failed in their quest to qualify after losing 18-12 to Italy in their final game in Doha, Qatar but were entered into the tournament when South Africa forfeited its allocated spot.
“As a team, we have been working very hard moving towards the Olympic Games,” Wright said in a news release. “We have made lots of strides as a team and are hoping to be able to show that at the Games.”
Wright is one of seven returning Olympians from the Tokyo Games, where Canada finished seventh.
Axelle Crevier, Elyse Lemay-Lavoie, Hayley McKelvey, Kindred Paul, Shae La Roche, and goalkeeper Clara Vulpi are the others. La Roche was Canada’s leading scorer in Tokyo with 10 goals.
Canada’s women’s water polo team is appearing at its fourth Summer Games, with a fifth-place finish when the sport made its Olympic debut in 2000 remaining its best result.
Women’s water polo takes place from July 27 to Aug. 11 at the Aquatics Centre and Paris La Defense Arena.
Canada roster
- Verica Bakoc (Toronto)
- Serena Browne (Pointe-Claire, Que.)
- Axelle Crevier (Montreal)
- Jessica Gaudreault (Ottawa)
- Shae La Roche (Winnipeg)
- Rae Lekness (Calgary)
- Elyse Lemay-Lavoie (Montreal)
- Blaire McDowell (Fernie, B.C.)
- Hayley McKelvey (North Delta, B.C.)
- Maria Eleni Mimides (Glyfada, Greece)
- Kindred Paul (Spruce Grove, Alta.)
- Clara Vulpisi (Montreal)
- Emma Wright (Whitby, Ont.).
Miller to also dive individually
Canada has been allocated a second spot in the women’s individual 10-metre diving event at the Paris Olympics.
Diving Canada announced Thursday that Kate Miller will dive in the event, along with Caeli McKay.
Miller, from Ottawa, earned the spot by finishing second behind McKay in the 10m event at the Canadian Diving Trials in Windsor, Ont., at the beginning of May.
The 19-year-old Miller, making her Olympic debut in Paris, will also team with Calgary’s McKay in the 10m synchronized event.
Canada announced its five-member Olympic team on June 19.
Nathan Zsombor-Murray of Pointe-Claire, Que., (men’s 10m, 10m synchro), Saskatoon’s Rylan Wiens (men’s 10m, 10m synchro) and Calgary’s Margo Erlam (women’s 3m) will also dive for Canada in Paris.
