The way Anne Merklinger sees it, Canada is on track to make real noise just over a year from now at the Paris Olympics.
The CEO of Own the Podium will have a better idea of how Canada measures up against its rivals over the next few months.
We’re entering the heart of the summer sporting calendar for most Olympic events — as top Canadians try to enhance their standing and secure spots for the Paris Games, which start on July 26, 2024.
“If we compare where we are now at the mid-point of the quadrennial, 2022 to 2018, there’s been significant increases in the number of top-threes, top-fives, top-eights (at world championships),” said Merklinger, whose organization is responsible for doling out funding to Olympic hopefuls.
“There’s also been an increase in the number of sports that are on a pathway for potentially a podium performance. Those are all really positive indicators. I think we can be cautiously optimistic, and all the signs are pointing toward Canada doing well in Paris.”
Canada did do well at the no-fan, one-year-delayed Tokyo Olympics in 2021, picking up a record (for a non-boycotted Summer Games) 24 medals, including seven gold.
All seven of the country’s champions figure to be back in Paris — and rising stars such as teen swim sensation Summer McIntosh will be added to the mix as well.
There are plenty of unknowns, of course, and much will change before the opening ceremony. Whether Russia participates, for one, likely will have a big impact on the medal table.
But Canadian medal hopefuls can’t worry about things out of their control. Over the next few months, many will be put to the test at world championships — where a good finish can change the entire complexion of an event as the Olympics approach.
“These are like dress rehearsals, the next 8-10 months, that’s really what they are,” Merklinger said. “We’ve had a great market share in fourth-place finishes (over the years). How can we help those athletes and teams who want to go from fourth to being on the podium, which would be their own personal performance objective? How can we help them and make sure we’ve had no regrets and providing them with every opportunity to do that?”
The first major event of the summer starts this weekend, with the world aquatics championships in Japan. The swimming portion gets going on July 23, just after Canada’s reigning Olympic champion women’s soccer team begins play at the Women’s World Cup.
Here’s a look at key events and Canadian athletes to watch as the summer sports schedule comes into focus.
Canadians To Watch
Christa Deguchi / Jessica Klimkait (judo): Deguchi won gold and Klimkait won bronze in the under-57 kilogram division at the world championship this year. Problem is, only one can qualify for Paris. Klimkait did in 2021 and won bronze.
Mia Vallee (diving): Many familiar Canadian divers are no longer competing, so the spotlight shifts to the 22-year-old Vallee, who won silver and bronze at last year’s world championship.
Ellie Black (gymnastics): Halifax veteran won silver on the balance beam and helped Canada capture team bronze at last year’s world championship.
Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson (beach volleyball): New team has finished in the top five at its past five events. Humana-Paredes won the world championship with Sarah Pavan in 2019.
Maude Charron (weightlifting): Won gold in Tokyo at 64 kg, but it’s no longer an Olympic event. She has moved down to 59 kg and won bronze at worlds last year.
Andre De Grasse (track and field): Since winning three medals (including gold in the 200 metres) in Tokyo, the sprinter has been slowed by injuries. But it would be unwise to count him out at this stage.
Pierce LePage / Damian Warner (decathlon): Warner won gold in Tokyo, but LePage beat him out for the win at a big meet in Austria this year. Both are Paris medal contenders.
Sarah Mitton (shot put): Won her first career Diamond League event in Norway last month.
Camryn Rogers (hammer throw): Won silver at worlds last year.
Canadian men’s basketball team: Has as much talent as anyone short of the U.S. in the world, but can this squad finally qualify? Coach Nick Nurse stepped away last month. All eyes on FIBA Men’s World Cup — which also serves as an Olympic qualifier — starting next month.
Canadian women’s basketball team: Finished fourth at FIBA Women’s World Cup last year.
Philip Kim (breaking): Better known as Phil Wizard, the Vancouver product won the world championship last year in a sport making its Olympic debut in Paris.
Kelsey Mitchell (cycling): The Olympic champ in the sprint in Tokyo, Mitchell won the same event at a World Cup on her home track in Milton, Ont., earlier this year.
Brooke Henderson (golf): Not having as strong a year as usual, but still lots of time for Canada’s top golfer in history to hit top gear.
Canadian women’s soccer team: Olympic gold in Tokyo was one of the most memorable moments of those Games for Canada. We’ll get a better idea of where this team stands at the upcoming Women’s World Cup.
Canadian women’s eight rowing: Hit podium in last two World Cup events. Canada won gold in Tokyo in this event.
Summer McIntosh (swimming): Still just 16, McIntosh set two world records at the Canadian trials earlier this year. Has potential to be the star of the Games for Canada.
Maggie Mac Neil (swimming): Won gold in the 100-metre butterfly in Tokyo.
Kylie Masse (swimming): Backstroke specialist captured a pair of silvers in Tokyo.
Joshua Liendo (swimming): Won three medals at worlds this year. Can Linedo become the male swimmer to make a splash?
Sarah Douglas (sailing): Won gold in ILCA 6 class at French Olympic Week earlier this year.
Canadian women’s 3×3 team: Kacie Bosch, Paige Crozon, Katherine Plouffe and Michelle Plouffe won a Women’s Series event in France last month.
World Championships
World triathlon mixed relay championships, July 13-16 in Hamburg, Germany
World aquatics championships, July 14-30 in Fukuoka, Japan
Women’s World Cup, July 20-Aug. 20 in Australia and New Zealand
World archery championships, July 28-Aug. 6 in Berlin
Climbing world championships, Aug. 1-12 in Bern
UCI cycling world championship, Aug. 3-13 in Glasgow
Dressage/jumping world championship, Aug. 6-14 in Herning, Denmark
Sailing world championships, Aug. 10-20, Scheveningen, Netherlands
World track and field championships, Aug. 19-27 Budapest
Modern pentathlon world championships, Aug. 21-28 Bath, England
Rhythmic world championship, Aug. 23-27 in Valencia, Spain
Canoe Sprint world championships, Aug. 23-27 in Duisburg, Germany
FIBA Basketball World Cup, Aug. 25-Sept. 10 in Philippines, Japan and Indonesia
Rowing world championships, Sept. 3-10 in Belgrade, Serbia
Eventing world championships, Sept. 14-18 Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy
World wrestling championships, Sept. 16-24 in Belgrade, Serbia
Canoe slalom world championships, Sept. 19-24 in Lee Valley, England
WDSF breaking world championships, Sept. 22-24 in Leuven, Belgium
Gymnastics world championships, Sept. 30-Aug. 8 in Antwerp, Belgium
Beach volleyball world championships, Oct. 6-15 in Tlaxcala, Mexico
Trampoline world championships, Nov. 9-12 in Birmingham, England
Olympic Qualifiers
Rugby Americas North Sevens Olympic qualifier, Aug. 19-20 in Langford, B.C.
Canada vs. Jamaica women’s soccer, Sept. 22 in Jamaica, Sept. 26 in Toronto
Women’s volleyball Olympic qualifier, Sept. 16-24 in Ningbo, China
Men’s volleyball Olympic qualifier, Sept. 30-Oct. 8 in Xi’an, China
Pan American Games, Oct. 20-Nov. 5 in Santiago, Chile
Events in Canada
Beach volleyball Elite 16, July 26-30 in Montreal
3×3 basketball World Tour, July 28-29 in Edmonton
National Bank Open tennis, Aug. 5-13 in Montreal (women) and Toronto (men)
3×3 basketball Women’s Series, Aug. 18-19 in Quebec
CP Women’s Open golf, Aug. 24-27 in Vancouver
3×3 basketball Women’s Series, Sept. 2-3 in Montreal