Canadian sports had some ups and downs throughout 2024. Good, bad, or ugly, there were several memorable moments. In the first six months of the year, Canada found it difficult to gain traction after unfortunate results for the Edmonton Oilers, the U20 World Junior team, and a shocking scandal for the Women’s National Football Team. There were major successes though. The Olympics showed the prodigy, Summer McIntosh, and the 4X100 men’s team who won gold. There was also the Copa América tournament where the men’s team is finally proving itself to be a world-class competitor. Overall, there were several triumphs throughout 2024. Let’s break down the top three!
The Summer of Summer
The 2024 Paris Olympic Games brought spectacular Canadian wins from a gold medal in men’s and women’s hammer throw, to Phil Kim taking home the first and only gold medal in olympic breakdancing. With many wins all round, where Canada excelled this year was in the pool. Ilya Kharun, aged 19, won two bronze medals in butterfly with Joshua Liendo, aged 21, winning silver in the same event. It was the first Olympic medal that Canadian men won in any swimming event since the London 2012 Olympics. The star of the games was 17-year-old Torontonian, Summer McIntosh. Winning three gold medals and one silver, McIntosh is setting herself up to become one of the most successful Canadian Olympians of all time. After breaking the world record for the 400 individual medley this year, McIntosh still entered Paris with stiff competition— namely the United States’ Katie Grimes and Emma Weyant. In her most dominating gold medal race, McIntosh remained in first place after every turn and finished five seconds ahead of Grimes, who finished second. This stellar performance by McIntosh led her to be the best medalling Canadian athlete of the 2024 Olympics and one of Canada’s youngest flag bearers.
De Grasse’s Guys Deliver Gold
August 1 marked the second half of the Olympic games. With swimming races winding down, athletics were just getting started. After winning silver in the past two Olympic games, the team of Aaron Brown, Jerome Blake, Brendon Rodney, and Andre De Grasse redeemed themselves by reaching the finish line in 37.50 – 0.07 seconds ahead of the silver medalling South African team. Their incredible win was accomplished from swift baton transfers and Brendon Rodney’s impressive bend before he handed it off to Andre De Grasse who then became tied for the most decorated Canadian Olympic athlete of all time. Although he plans to compete in the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, De Grasse reflected on his first gold in the event. “It feels pretty amazing. To be out with these guys, my brothers, I’ve been with them since the beginning of time, so it’s amazing,” said De Grasse in an interview with CBC. “We talked about this moment for years. It feels good to bring it to fruition. I’m super grateful,” he continued.
Canada’s Copa Conquest
Over the past two years, the Canadian Men’s National Football Team has been on a climb up. Their qualification for the 2022 World Cup was just the start of the best results the team has ever had. On March 23, 2023 Canada beat Trinidad and Tobago 2–0 at the CONCACAF Nations League soccer tournament. In doing so, the team qualified for their first Copa América tournament. Canada started their first group stage match, with a loss to World Cup champion, Argentina. Following this loss, Canada hoped to finish second in the group. Jonathan David’s lone goal against Peru then a 0–0 draw against Chile secured this spot to make it to the quarterfinal. Odds had Canada losing to the physical Venezuela squad, however, 13 minutes in, Jacob Shaffelburg of Port Williams, Nova Scotia netted Canada’s first goal. A late Venezuela goal forced a penalty shootout where Koné won it for Canada in the sixth round. Canada went on to lose the next game and qualify for the bronze medal game where they were barely defeated by Luis Suárez’s team Uruguay. This loss was still a momentous occasion for Canada. Since the World Cup, they have gained momentum and could be a force to be reckoned with when hosting the World Cup in 2028.
