Sanford’s bronze extends Canada’s medal streak

PARIS – Wyatt Sanford ended 1 streak and continued different connected Day 9 of nan Paris Olympics.

The boxer from Kennetcook, N.S., was defeated successful his 63.5-kilogram semifinal bout against France’s Sofiane Oumiha connected Sunday.

However, pinch boxing awarding 2 bronze medals to nan semifinal losers alternatively than shape a conflict for 3rd place, Sanford ended Canada’s Olympic badge drought successful nan athletics that stretched complete nan past six Games. The past Canadian boxer to measurement connected nan podium had been David Defiagbon, who took heavyweight metallic astatine nan 1996 Games successful Atlanta.

And pinch Sanford’s bronze already added to nan charismatic badge table, Canada has equalled its grounds streak of 9 consecutive days connected nan podium group astatine nan 2016 Rio Olympics. Canada sat ninth successful nan wide badge array pinch 16 (four gold, 4 silver, 8 bronze).

More medals were up for grabs later Sunday, led by hammer thrower Ethan Katzberg. The world champion from Nanaimo, B.C., had nan champion propulsion successful qualifying.

Swimming superstar Summer McIntosh of Toronto had a chance to triumph her 5th badge successful Paris pinch Canada’s 4×100 medley relay team, while dressed up sprinter Andre De Grasse of Markham, Ont., was group to tally successful nan 100-metre semifinals.

Four of nan 5 judges scored nan 63.5 kg semifinal 29-28 successful Oumiha’s favour, while nan different had Sanford winning by nan aforesaid score.

Sanford made it a adjacent lucifer by winning nan 3rd information connected 4 of nan 5 judges’ scorecards, but nan Canadian ran retired of clip to build connected that momentum.

“I consciousness great. I didn’t get nan consequence I wanted, but he is 1 hellhole of a fighter. A awesome boxer,” Sanford said aft nan fight.

“I can’t consciousness excessively sad astir it. I’ve nary regrets. I’m ace happy pinch nan performance, I conscionable didn’t get nan outcome. That’s conscionable nan measurement it goes.”

Sanford, who entered nan Games arsenic nan top-ranked combatant successful his weight class and reigning Pan American Games champion, said aft winning his quarterfinal conflict that he wanted to bring a golden badge backmost to Kennetcook. He’ll beryllium bringing backmost bronze instead, and he is good pinch that.

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“I can’t hold to get backmost location to observe nan bronze badge pinch my family and friends who person been location for maine since time one. It’s awesome to beryllium capable to springiness them thing backmost for each that support complete nan years,” he said.

It was different Olympics to hide for Canada’s women’s hoops team, which went winless astatine nan Games pursuing a 79-70 nonaccomplishment to Nigeria successful Lille.

After finishing ninth successful Tokyo, Canada came into this summer’s tourney classed 5th successful nan world. The squad was expected to situation for a medal, but struggled pinch turnovers and protect lapses successful losses to Nigeria, Australia and France.

“You’re competing pinch nan champion successful nan world, successful do-or-die situations, each possession, each game,” said Canadian seasoned Natalie Achonwa, who said her 4th Olympics will beryllium her last,

“When I return this jersey off, I dream that I near it amended than I recovered it,” she added. “And that everyone backmost location knows that each clip I put it on, I did it pinch nan utmost magnitude of pridefulness and passion.”

This study by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 4, 2024.