June 28, 2024
The Paris 2024 Games will be special for Team Canada gymnasts and their fans. This summer will mark the first time in 20 years that Canada will be represented by full teams in both men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics at the Olympic Games.
The women’s artistic gymnastics (WAG) team will be led by veteran Ellie Black, who is set to compete in her fourth Olympic Games – a record for a Canadian artistic gymnast. Breaking records is nothing new for Black, who helped Canada to its best-ever Olympic finish in the women’s team event, a fifth-place finish at London 2012 as a 16-year-old. At Rio 2016, Black finished fifth in the individual all-around final, Canada’s best Olympic result in the event. In 2017, she became the first Canadian woman or man to win a world championship medal in the individual all-around, taking silver in front of the home crowd in Montreal.
Black overcame adversity at the Tokyo 2020 Games, finishing fourth on the balance beam – the best Olympic result by a Canadian in an artistic gymnastics event – after withdrawing from the individual all-around final due to a sprain at the ankle. In 2022, Black led the Canadian women to a bronze medal in the team event at the world championships, which was Canada’s first medal in that event, a result which also secured Canada’s Olympic qualification at the team event.
“I am delighted to have qualified for the Canadian women’s artistic gymnastics team for the Paris Olympic Games. I feel a lot of pride and gratitude heading into my fourth Olympic Games. This is an incredible accomplishment. I wouldn’t be here without the incredible support of the team around me. I can’t wait to continue building our team with these girls and see what we can accomplish in Paris! »
Black will once again be joined by Shallon Olsen, who will be competing in her third Olympic Games after reaching the vault final at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, and Ava Stewart, who will be competing in her second Olympic Games. For Stewart, the postponement of Tokyo 2020 by a year was actually beneficial, as she only became eligible for senior competitions in 2021, the year of her 16th birthday. Cassie Lee and Aurélie Tran will make their Olympic debut at Paris 2024. They both represented Canada at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games, alongside Stewart, who won bronze on the balance beam. The Canadians also won bronze in the women’s team event.
Seeing the women’s team qualify at the first opportunity motivated the men’s gymnasts on Team Canada. The Canadians secured their qualification at the 2023 FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships with their incredible fourth place in qualifying. Four of the five gymnasts who helped qualify the men’s team will be present in Paris.
As the only Canadian male artistic gymnast at Tokyo 2020, René Cournoyer will play a leadership role on the team this year. Cournoyer finished 12th in the individual all-around final at the 2023 World Championships, his career best result. At the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games, he won the bronze medal on the high bar and contributed to Canada’s silver medal in the team event.
“Being part of this team represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Not only will this allow me to compete in my second Olympics, but I will do so with one of, if not the best teams ever. We have a serious chance to make history and achieve incredible international results in front of the whole world. Whatever the result, I know I will have a great time with my teammates, and Paris will be an event that I will remember for the rest of my life,” said Cournoyer.
Rising star Félix Dolci was also part of the team that qualified Canada for the Games. He followed that up with an excellent performance at the Pan American Games in Santiago, where he won five medals, more than any other gymnast at that competition. Dolci won gold in the men’s individual all-around, marking the first time since 1963 that a Canadian stood atop the podium in that event at the Pan American Games. Dolci also won gold on floor, bronze on vault and rings, and helped Team Canada capture a silver medal in the team event.
“I am truly honored and excited to be part of the team for Paris 2024. Being named to this team is a dream come true, and I look forward to contributing to the achievement of our common goals with my skills and passion . »
Zachary Clay and William Émard were both part of the team that qualified Canada for the Olympics, as well as the team that won silver at the Pan American Games. Clay also won a gold medal on pommel horse at Santiago 2023, where Émard earned a silver medal on rings.
Émard defied the odds to make Canada’s Paris 2024 Olympic team after suffering a serious biceps injury in March. Focused on his rehabilitation throughout the spring, Émard recovered to win bronze in the individual all-around at the 2024 Canadian Championships, finishing behind Dolci and Cournoyer, allowing him to solidify his place on the Olympic team .
Samuel Zakutney will complete the team, having now recovered from a shoulder injury that took him out of competition. He was unable to compete at the 2023 World Championships and his absence served as motivation for the team’s historic performance, which used the rallying cry “Do it for Sam” throughout the competition.
Sophiane Méthot will be Team Canada’s lone representative in the trampoline discipline. The 25-year-old is a two-time Pan American champion and won a bronze medal in the individual event at her first world championships in 2017.
“I am excited and honored to represent Canada at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. I look forward to sharing these Games with my family and friends who will be cheering me on in Paris! » declared Méthot.
Artistic gymnastics will take place from July 27 to August 5, while trampoline will take place on August 2, both at the Arena Bercy.
Team gymnasts Canada in Paris 2024
Men’s artistic gymnastics
René Cournoyer (Repentigny, QC)
Zachary Clay (Chilliwack, C.-B.)
Félix Dolci (Laval, QC)
William Émard (Laval, QC)
Samuel Zakutney (Ottawa, ON)
Women’s artistic gymnastics
Ellie Black (Halifax, N.-E.)
Shallon Olsen (Vancouver, C.-B.)
Cassie Lee (Toronto, ON)
Ava Stewart (Bowmanville, ON)
Aurélie Tran (Repentigny, QC)
Gymnastics – trampoline
Sophiane Méthot (Varennes, QC)
