The Paris 2024 Olympic Games have been a showcase of the top athletes in the world competing for medals and national pride. Every athlete at the Olympics started their journey as a child, likely in a community sport organization, where they learned their sport and competed to earn their spot on the national team.
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games have been a showcase of the top athletes in the world competing for medals and national pride. Every athlete at the Olympics started their journey as a child, likely in a community sport organization, where they learned their sport and competed to earn their spot on the national team.
Ottawa’s community sport organizations are well-represented through some of Canada’s top-performing athletes, who are becoming role models through sport for young participants in sport. These include:
Toshka Besharah-Hrebacka – Canoe/Kayak – Rideau Canoe Club
Participating in her first Olympics in Canoe-Kayak Sprint, the 21-year old competes in the women’s K-4 500 metre.
Julie Brousseau – Swimming – Nepean-Kanata Barracudas
The 18-year old represented Canada’s national swimming team in the relays. This is Brousseau’s first Olympic games. She won three medals at the 2023 Pan Am Games, including gold in the women’s 400 metre individual medley. She also won 11 medals at the 2022 Canada Summer Games.
Brooke Henderson – Golf – Smiths Falls Golf and Country Club
Henderson’s appearance in Paris is her third consecutive Olympic games. She previously finished tied for 7th at Rio 2016 and tied for 29th at Tokyo 2020. Henderson is Canada’s winningest professional golfer with 13 victories on the LPGA Tour, including two major titles.
Vanessa Gilles – Soccer – Louis-Riel High School
Gilles was part of Canada’s gold medal-winning women’s soccer team at the Tokyo 2020 games. She currently plays with Olympique Lyonnais in the Premiere Ligue in France.
Ottawa Sports Pages has amazing daily coverage of Ottawa athletes at the games. For the latest news from all Ottawa’s Olympians in Paris, follow the coverage here. These include:
Toshka Besharah-Hrebacka – Canoe/Kayak – Rideau Canoe Club
Participating in her first Olympics in Canoe-Kayak Sprint, the 21-year old competes in the women’s K-4 500 metre.
Julie Brousseau – Swimming – Nepean-Kanata Barracudas
The 18-year old represented Canada’s national swimming team in the relays. This is Brousseau’s first Olympic games. She won three medals at the 2023 Pan Am Games, including gold in the women’s 400 metre individual medley. She also won 11 medals at the 2022 Canada Summer Games.
Brooke Henderson – Golf – Smiths Falls Golf and Country Club
Henderson’s appearance in Paris is her third consecutive Olympic games. She previously finished tied for 7th at Rio 2016 and tied for 29th at Tokyo 2020. Henderson is Canada’s winningest professional golfer with 13 victories on the LPGA Tour, including two major titles.
Vanessa Gilles – Soccer – Louis-Riel High School
Gilles was part of Canada’s gold medal-winning women’s soccer team at the Tokyo 2020 games. She currently plays with Olympique Lyonnais in the Premiere Ligue in France.
Ottawa Sports Pages has amazing daily coverage of Ottawa athletes at the games. For the latest news from all Ottawa’s Olympians in Paris, follow the coverage here.