Damian Warner will defend their Olympic titles at this summer's Paris Games as part of Canada's athletics team. Warner competes in the semifinal 100m hurdles at the Canadian Track and Field Olympic trials in Montreal on June 29, 2024.Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press
WARNER IN ACTION
Defending Olympic decathlon gold medalist Damian Warner, the first Canadian to earn the honorary title of World’s Greatest Athlete, will seek to defend his title as the competition gets under way. Warner will compete in the 100-metre, long jump, shot put, high jump and 400-metre events on Friday. Also in athletics, Ethan Katzberg takes part in the qualification round of men’s hammer throw. Katzberg made history at the 2023 world athletics championships when he became the first Canadian to win a world title in hammer throw.
LONG DISTANCE
Mohammed Ahmed will represent Canada in the men’s 10,000-metre final – a competition where he finished sixth place, Canada’s best Olympic result in that event since 1912, at the Tokyo Games. Ahmed made history at those Olympics where he won silver in the 5000-metre, marking Canada’s first Olympic medal in a long-distance track event.
IN THE POOL
Canadian medalists Summer McIntosh and Ilya Kharun will look to make another splash in Paris. McIntosh, who has already won medley gold, butterfly gold and freestyle silver, is set to swim in the women’s 200-metre individual medley heats, while Kharun, who claimed bronze in the men’s 200-metre butterfly, will compete in the 100-metre butterfly heats.
BIG TEST IN BASKETBALL
Canada looks to stay undefeated when it plays its final group stage game in men’s basketball against Spain. Canada sits atop Group A at 2-0 and has already qualified for the quarter-finals. Canada defeated No. 2-ranked Spain at last year’s FIBA World Cup
TENNIS SEMI-FINAL
Montreal’s Félix Auger-Aliassime will try to keep his magic going on the tennis courts as he faces Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-final of men’s tennis singles. The 23-year-old defeated No. 6 seed Casper Ruud in Thursday’s quarter-finals, ensuring he will compete for a medal – either bronze or gold. He will also play for a medal in mixed doubles with partner Gabriela Dabrowski of Ottawa.