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The most memorable Canadian sports moments of 2021

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3 years ago

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One mission accomplished — the next is within reach.

Canada’s emergence as a full-fledged soccer nation in 2021 began with the Canadian women — who “changed the colour” of the medal to gold at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

After back-to-back bronze medals in 2012 and 2016, the Canadian women’s soccer team moved up two spots on the podium and became Olympic champions.

It was the most-watched moment of Tokyo 2020 as 4.4 million Canadians tuned in on CBC for Julia Grosso’s gold medal-winning penalty kick against Sweden in the final.

The Canadian men are on the verge of their first World Cup berth since 1986. With eight matches played and six to go, Canada’s CONCACAF World Cup qualifying campaign has already delivered two marquee events on home soil.

Canadian tennis star Leylah Fernandez developed as the fan favourite in New York en route to the U.S. Open final.

Although the 19-year-old left-hander from Laval, Que., was defeated by fellow teenager (and Toronto-born) Emma Raducanu 6-4, 6-3, Fernandez delivered a touching post-match tribute to ‘resilient’ New York City on the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.

From Canada soccer’s impact to Fernandez’s remarkable run to the U.S. Open final, here are the 10 most memorable Canadian sports moments that defined the year.

Canada soccer’s Labbé, Quinn inspire

At Tokyo 2020, goalkeeper Stephanie Labbé helped Canada to penalty shootout wins over Brazil in the quarter-finals and Sweden in the gold-medal game.

Shortly after Canada’s Olympic victory celebration, the 35-year-old from Stony Plain, Alta., (unofficially) became the new National Minister of Defence.

A change to the Canadian keeper’s position was made on Wikipedia and drew the attention of Harjit Sajjan — who held the position during the Games.

 

 

In September, Labbé opened up again about her mental health struggles and revealed she could not train for part of the Olympics because of ‘high levels of anxiety and multiple panic attacks.‘

Before the final kicked off, Canadian midfielder Quinn had already made Olympic history.

 

Canadian women win gold after roller-coaster penalty shootout

Julia Grosso scored the winner, while keeper Stephanie Labbé stood tall in Canada’s wild 3-2 win over Sweden on penalty kicks. 1:23

The 25-year-old from Toronto would become the first openly transgender and non-binary athlete to win an Olympic medal when the Canadian team defeated their long-time rivals and reigning World Champions, the United States in the semifinals.

Quinn came out publicly as transgender in September 2020, changed their pronouns to they/them and now goes by one name.

Canadian men produce signature events

Through eight games in the final round of World Cup qualifying in the CONCACAF region, Canada is top of the table.

And unbeaten.

In their last match on Nov. 16, the Canadian men earned a 2-1 landmark victory over regional powerhouse Mexico on the frozen tundra of the “Estadio Iceteca” (aka Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium), which vaulted Canada into first place.

After Cyle Larin’s eventual match-winner — his second goal of the contest — Canadian defender Sam Adekugbe flung himself into a snowbank during the celebrations.

Adekugbe’s celebratory reaction went viral.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the field, Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies continues to impress for Canada.

In front of Toronto’s BMO field at full capacity, Davies’ remarkable goal against Panama helped the men’s team claim a crucial 4-1 victory.

Alphonso Davies’ spectacular goal leads Canada past Panama in CONCACAF World Cup qualifier

 

Forward Alphonso Davies scores with an incredible individual effort as Canada defeats Panama 4-1 in their CONCACAF World Cup qualifying match. 1:47

The stunning solo effort got the attention of Canadian global star Drake.

 

 

 

 

Tickets for Canada’s next World Cup qualifier home game, against the United States, sold out before the public sale.

The match is expected to take place at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, Ont., on Jan. 30.

Fernandez delivers touching speech

Leylah Fernandez arrived at Flushing Meadows for the U.S. Open ranked No. 73 in the world.

What followed was a remarkable run that saw the Canadian teenager defeat top-five seeds Aryna Sabalenka, Angelique Kerber, Elina Svitolina and four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka before falling to Raducanu in the final.

In her post-match interview, Fernandez addressed the crowd inside Arthur Ashe Stadium with a touching tribute.

“I know on this day it was especially hard for New York and everyone around the United States,” Fernandez said. “I just want to say that I hope I can be as strong and as resilient as New York has been the past 20 years.”

Leylah Fernandez, father join CBC Sports to discuss her breakout year

 

Canadian tennis star Leylah Fernandez along with her father and coach Jorge Fernandez join CBC Sports’ Vivek Jacob to look back on the year that was, discuss their relationship on and off the court and look ahead to the 2022 tennis season. 14:18

Already a fan-favourite through her gritty play, determination and underdog status throughout the event, the New York crowd gave Canada’s newest tennis superstar a loud ovation.

The post-match acknowledgement from Fernandez drew praise across social media, including from former world No. 1 Andy Roddick.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Following her breakout season, the Laval, Que., teen now has her sights set on a top-10 spot in the world rankings, as well as Grand Slam and WTA titles alongside her coach and father Jorge Fernandez.

Canada’s athlete of the year dominates in Tokyo

Damian Warner became Canada’s first Olympic champion in the decathlon and surpassed the 9,000-point mark, an Olympic record.

On the strength of his historic performance, Canadian media awarded the London, Ont., native with the Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada’s athlete of the year.

In a display of extraordinary athleticism, Warner became just the fourth decathlete to break 9,000 points and delivered one of the greatest performances in the history of his sport.

 

Damian Warner becomes 1st Canadian to win decathlon gold

Warner set an Olympic record with 9018 points in the decathlon after he finished the 1,500m race in a time of 4:31.08 at Tokyo 2020. 6:30

Oleksiak swims to Canadian Olympic history

At Tokyo 2020, Penny Oleksiak became the most-decorated Canadian Olympian of all time.

Canadian women captured 18 of Canada’s 24 medals at the Games, with Oleksiak contributing three to that tally.

 

Penny Oleksiak becomes most decorated Canadian Olympian with 7th medal

Canadians Kylie Masse, Sydney Pickrem, Maggie Mac Neil and Penny Oleksiak swam to a national-record time of three minutes 52.60 seconds to earn bronze in the women’s 4×100-metre medley relay, giving Oleksiak a Canadian-record seventh Olympic medal. Australia took gold, giving Emma McKeon her fourth gold medal and seventh overall at Tokyo 2020. 8:43

At Rio 2016, the Toronto native captured four medals, including gold, as a 16-year-old. Five years later, with bronze in the 4×100-metre medley, Oleksiak passed Canadian greats Clara Hughes and Cindy Klassen with her record-setting seventh Olympic medal.

The Canadian swim star was quick to give credit to her relay teammates Maggie Mac Neil, Kylie Masse and Sydney Pickrem with a tweet in reference to her favourite artist, Drake.

De Grasse earns gold, goes 3-for-3 at Olympics again

With Oleksiak at the top, Canadian track and field star Andre De Grasse isn’t far behind.

In his Olympic debut at Rio 2016, De Grasse raced to three medals, which included silver in the 200m.

Five years later — in the same event with his trademark strong finish — the Markham, Ont., native became Olympic champion for the first time.

De Grasse, the first Canadian to win gold in the 200m since Percy Williams in 1928, clocked in with a national-record time of 19.62 seconds.

 

 

 

 

The 27-year-old also took bronze in the marquee event, the 100m, and lifted the Canadian team to bronze in the 4×100 with a phenomenal anchor leg.

De Grasse has won a medal in every Olympic and world championship event final he’s competed in.

 

De Grasse blazes down backstretch to win 200m gold

Canadian Andre De Grasse finished strong to take home the gold medal in a Canadian record time of 19.62 seconds. 7:04

Paralympic star Rivard overcomes ‘failed’ start in Tokyo

Aurélie Rivard captured Canada’s 1st gold medal at the Tokyo Paralympics.

However, it was her first race, the women’s S10 50m freestyle, that left her feeling unsatisfied.

As the defending Paralympic champion, the 25-year-old from Saint-Jean-sur-Richeileu, Que., claimed bronze.

“I didn’t have a bronze medal in my collection, and I didn’t really want one. I didn’t have a good race,” she said.

Hungry for gold, Rivard would repeat as champion in the S10 100m freestyle in a remarkable time of 58.14 seconds — to break the world record for the second time that day.

Rivard would go on to win three more medals, including gold in the 400m freestyle S10, setting another world record in that event.

 

Aurélie Rivard swims to another world record en route to Canada’s 1st gold in Tokyo

4 months ago

Duration 3:45

The St-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, Que., native breaks her own world record set earlier in the day with a time of 58.14 seconds in the women’s S10 100-metre freestyle final. 3:45

Bujold, Gaucher fight for gender equality

Two female Canadian athletes won their battles to be allowed to compete in the Tokyo Olympics.

Both are mothers, who had been prevented from going for that reason.

Boxer Mandy Bujold was originally ruled ineligible for Tokyo 2020 because she was pregnant and postpartum with her daughter, Kate Olympia, in 2018 and 2019.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) used that two-year time period to determine qualification for the Games after the pandemic wiped out the 2020 competitive year.

After weeks filled with legal battles, the 34-year-old from Kitchener, Ont., was ruled eligible to box at the Tokyo Olympics by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

 

Canadian boxer Bujold says ‘sky is the limit for all women’ after winning legal bout with IOC

Watch boxer Mandy Bujold of Kitchener, Ont., read her statement after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled that Olympic qualification criteria must include an accommodation for women who were pregnant or postpartum during the qualification period, paving the way for Bujold to compete at the Tokyo Olympics. 5:40

Less than two months from the opening ceremonies in Tokyo, basketball player Kim Gaucher was forced to make an emotional plea via Instagram, saying the IOC was forcing her to make a tough choice: skip the Olympics, or spend 28 days in Tokyo without her daughter, who she was breastfeeding.

A few weeks later, the 37-year-old from Mission, B.C., received good news — baby Sophie was going to Tokyo after all.

 

Basketball player Kim Gaucher and boxer Mandy Bujold to compete in Tokyo Olympics

Two female Canadian athletes have won their battles to be allowed to compete in the Tokyo Olympics. Star boxer Mandy Bujold and basketball player Kim Gaucher are both young mothers who had been prevented from going for that reason. 2:04

Mac Neil’s priceless reaction to gold

Maggie Mac Neil had just won Canada’s first gold medal of Tokyo 2020, but in her Olympic debut, the 21-year-old native of London, Ont., looked surprised.

After touching the wall, Mac Neil looked up at the scoreboard and squinted — then realized her name topped the list of swimmers competing in the women’s 100m butterfly final.

 

 

Mac Neil’s meme-worthy reaction was due to the fact she’s near-sighted and doesn’t wear contacts or prescription goggles in the pool.

She would leave Tokyo with three medals — one of each colour — and contributed to Canada’s continued swim success with the relay teams.

 

Maggie Mac Neil swims to Canada’s 1st gold medal at Tokyo 2020

Maggie Mac Neil of London, Ont., won Canada’s first gold medal of these Olympics, capturing the women’s 100-metre butterfly in a Canadian record 55.59 seconds on Monday morning in Tokyo. 6:28

Stewart, Lakatos form bond in Tokyo

In the middle of his shot put final at Japan’s National Stadium, Greg Stewart’s focus shifted away from the competition.

The 35-year-old, who stands at 7-foot-2, would encourage Canadian teammate and wheelchair racer Brent Lakatos around the track.

 

 

Stewart completed a Paralympic record-setting toss of 16.75 metres in the first round of throws in the men’s F46 shot put.

The Kamloops, B.C., native would then capture Canada’s second gold medal of the Tokyo Paralympics.

Lakatos, of Dorval, Que., would later go on to win silver men’s T53 100m final, finishing with a time of 14.55 seconds following the support of his Tokyo roommate.

With four medals in six events, the 41-year-old formed a special bond with Stewart while in Japan.

 

 

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Champions Trophy host Pakistan says it’s not been told India wants to play cricket games elsewhere

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November 8, 2024

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LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.

“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”

Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.

The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.

Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.

“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”

Pakistan hosted last year’s Asia Cup but all India games were played in Sri Lanka under a hybrid model for the tournament. Only months later Pakistan did travel to India for the 50-over World Cup.

Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.

“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”

The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.

“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”

Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.

“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.

___

AP cricket:

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Dabrowski, Routlife into WTA doubles final with win over Melichar-Martinez, Perez

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November 8, 2024

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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.

Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.

The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.

The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.

Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.

Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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Winger Tajon Buchanan back with Canada after recovering from broken leg

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November 8, 2024

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Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.

The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.

Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.

There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.

Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.

But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.

The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”

The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.

Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.

Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.

Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.

Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.

“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”

“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.

Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.

Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.

The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.

Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.

Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.

Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.

Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.

Canada Roster

Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).

Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).

Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).

Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).

—

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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