Canada struck gold in men’s and women’s beach volleyball on Sunday — along with some continental participant passes to the 2024 Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

The men’s and women’s teams claimed top spot in the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Mexico.

Heather Bansley of Waterdown, Ont., and Sophie Bukovec of Toronto, who have been playing together for just under a year, were undefeated in the tournament and won the women’s gold.

In Sunday’s final, Bansley and Bukovec beat Atenas Gutierrez and Susana Torres of Mexico 2-0 (21-16, 21-17).

This will be Bansley’s third Olympics (2016, 2020), but now with new playing partner and first-timer Bukovec.

“I’m just really proud. We came here with the goal of qualifying for Paris and we accomplished just that,” said Bansley.

“It’s been a crazy 11 months for our team and it’s incredible that we were able to qualify. I’m so proud of Sophie. … If you asked me a year ago if we would be here, it was probably a crazy dream. It’s incredible.”

Samuel Schachter of Richmond Hill, Ont., and Daniel Dearing of Toronto defeated Mexico’s Juan Virgen and Ricardo Galindo 2-0 (21-13, 21-13) in Sunday’s gold-medal final.

“We played with a lot of joy today, I actually enjoyed the game,” said Schachter. “We were in the moment. … This was a team win, and we had so much support.

“Today, we were really able to focus on the right things and were able to manage the moment. I can’t wait to represent our country.”

Schachter previously played in 2016 in Rio with then-beach partner Josh Binstock. Though Dearing will be an Olympic newcomer, he is a Commonwealth Games silver medallist with Schachter.

Three beach teams are now qualified for Canada. Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson had already secured a berth via their solid position in the women’s World Rankings. The beach teams will be officially part of Team Canada when nominated and announced by the Canadian Olympic Committee (official team announcement still to come).

Canadian beach volleyball teams have secured their spots in the upcoming Paris Olympics, marking a significant achievement for the country’s athletes. The teams, consisting of both men and women players, have been working tirelessly to qualify for the prestigious event and have finally achieved their goal.

The Canadian women’s team, comprised of Sarah Pavan and Melissa Humana-Paredes, have been dominant in recent years and are considered one of the top teams in the world. They have consistently performed well in international competitions and have proven themselves to be formidable opponents on the sand. Their hard work and dedication have paid off, as they have secured their spot in the Paris Olympics and will be representing Canada on the world stage.

On the men’s side, the Canadian team of Ben Saxton and Grant O’Gorman have also qualified for the Olympics. This dynamic duo has shown great skill and determination in their quest to qualify for the games, and their hard work has finally paid off. They will be joining their female counterparts in Paris, ready to compete against the best beach volleyball teams in the world.

The qualification of both Canadian beach volleyball teams for the Paris Olympics is a testament to the talent and dedication of the athletes, as well as the support they have received from their coaches, trainers, and fans. It is a proud moment for Canadian sports and a great opportunity for the teams to showcase their skills on the international stage.

As the teams prepare for the Olympics, they will continue to train hard and fine-tune their skills in order to be in peak form for the competition. They will be facing tough competition from other countries, but they are confident in their abilities and are ready to give it their all on the sand.

Canadian beach volleyball fans can look forward to cheering on their teams as they compete in the Paris Olympics, knowing that they have worked hard to earn their spots and are ready to represent their country with pride. The excitement is building as the games draw closer, and all eyes will be on the Canadian teams as they strive for success in Paris.