Photo Credit: Darren Calabrese/Canadian Olympic Committee
Canada’s shining in history with silver
For Canada’s final day on the Olympic rugby pitch, Waldheim’s Carissa Norsten joined the women’s team for a semifinal win and a spot in the gold medal match.
For the second time at the Olympic Games, Canada faced New Zealand, this time in the final after losing to them in pool play. New Zealand took an early 7-0 lead less than two minutes into the game, but Canada fought back, scoring back-to-back tries —one converted and one not— to take a 12-7 lead into halftime.
New Zealand came out strong in the second half, scoring a converted try within the first minute and then went on to add another try with two minutes left in the game to take a 19-12. That score remained until time ran out.
In their first game of the day, Canada faced Australia and trailed 12-0 until a try and conversion for the red and white right before halftime cut the lead to 12-7. In the second half, the Canadian squad added another pair of tries and kept the Aussies off the scoreboard to win the game 21-12 and advance to the gold medal match.
Claiming silver made Canadian history as the best results in rugby at the Olympic Games, topping the bronze medal won by the women’s team at Tokyo 2020.
Crozon and Canada’s strong Olympic debut
Canada’s Olympic debut in women’s 3×3 basketball ended with a victory over Australia for Humbolt product Paige Crozon and her teammates.
Bringing the heat with just over five minutes remaining in the game, Crozon extended Canada’s lead 10-2 with a one-point free throw and continued to make back-to-back free throws and an additional one-point shot.
Canada made a final two-point shot to close the game, 22-14 and take the win.
Crozon and Canada will look ahead to their game against China, Wednesday, July 31 at 10:00 a.m. Saskatchewan time.
Canada moves 2-0 in men’s basketball
The Canadian men’s basketball team returned to the court after a two-day break without skipping a beat and claimed an 93-83 win over Australia.
Canada trailed 49-45 at halftime but came out strong in the second half and led 72-70 at the end of the third quarter.
It remained a close game until the final quarter, when Canada scored an additional 21 points and held Australia to only 13. With three seconds left on the clock, Canada scored their final three-point shot to come out 10 points on top of Australia.
Canada’s Rj Barrett led both teams with 24 points, while Saskatoon’s Trey Lyle’s added three points in the victory.
Lyles and Team Canada will compete against Spain Aug. 2 at 9:15 a.m. (SK time) in their final group phase game.
Purahoo concludes time at Olympics
Making his Olympic debut in the pool, Ovesh Purahoo represented Team Mauritius in the men’s 100-metre freestyle heats event.
Purahoo, who has ties to Regina, finished with a 52.22 time and did not advance.
Upcoming Saskatchewan competition
On Wednesday, July 31, five athletes with ties to Saskatchewan will compete for Day Five of the Olympic Games. Four are returning in competition and one is making their first appearance.
Saskatoon’s Blake Tierney is hitting the pool once again, but this time in the men’s 200-metre backstroke heats at 3:21 a.m. (SK time). If he advances, he’ll move onto semifinals later in the day at 2:34 p.m.
Regina-born Kelsey Wog will also be joining Tierney in the swimming lanes, as she competes in the women’s 200-m breaststroke heats at 3:00 a.m. and potentially 2:31 p.m., if she advances to semifinals.
Paige Crozon, of Humbolt, with be joining Canada 3×3 team in their second pool game and will face China at 10:00 a.m. (SK time).
Looking to make a comeback with Team Canada, Regina water polo player, Blaire McDowell will compete against China at 7:35 a.m. (SK time).
Boxer, Tammara Thibeault, who has ties to Regina, will compete for the first time this Games against Cindy Djankeu Ngamba (Olympic Refugee Team) in the women’s 75-kilogram category at 9:06 a.m. (SK time).
Olympic Notes: Canada concluded Day Four of competition in Paris with an additional silver medal being added to their tally by the women’s rugby 7s team… Canada’s medal count: 6 (2 Gold, 2 Silver, 2 Bronze).
Read the full Day Four recap on olympic.ca