Canada’s women’s water polo team unveiled, 13 athletes to make a splash in Paris

Members of the Canadian Olympic Committee and Water Polo Canada unveiled the 13 athletes who will travel to Paris for the Olympic Games later this month. It marks the second Olympics for seven of the water polo athletes, who previously competed in Tokyo for the 2020 Games.

This includes Montrealer Axelle Crevier, daughter of Olympian Marie-Claude Deslières, who was part of the first-ever Canadian women’s Olympic water polo team in Sydney in 2000. Women’s water polo matches will take place from July 27 to August 11 at the Paris Olympics.

“We’re coming in with more experience. Half of us have been to Tokyo, so definitely there’s less stress, even though it’s a different game. It will be a new experience, but we’re excited,” says Axelle Crevier, Team Canada’s water polo athlete.

“We have some newer girls, but I definitely think that they also bring a lot of fire to the game,” says Emma Wright, the captain of this year’s squad.

Eleven of the athletes picked for Paris were members of the silver medal-winning team at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games.

“I think it gives us an edge in the sense that we know the United States. I think the U.S. is a very strong team. So I think we have that advantage by playing against them in the Santiago games,” adds Wright.

Despite a major misfortune in the spring that complicated the teams’ already-grueling training schedule, the athletes’ determination hasn’t wavered.

“We’ve had a fire at our national training center at the Montreal Olympic Stadium, which means that we’ve had to scramble to find pool time and adequate schedules and training spaces all over,” says Olivier Pineau, High Performance Director for Water Polo Canada.

“They’re incredibly professional, dedicated athletes. They’re super focused, laser focused, and honestly, they’re just wonderful human beings as well as being remarkable athletes in the pool. I think they’re great role models for everybody, and I think they’re going to make history for us again in Paris.”

“I’m just the most proud to represent my country. I think it’s a really big privilege, and I’m really thankful every day to be able to wear the Canadian flag on my chest,” shares Wright.