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Canadian beach volleyball team of Humana-Paredes and Wilkerson win silver medal in Canada after defeat by Brazil
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    Canadian beach volleyball team of Humana-Paredes and Wilkerson win silver medal in Canada after defeat by Brazil

    A dramatic Olympic run ended with silver for Canada’s Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson.

    The Toronto tandem lost 2-1 (26-24, 12-21, 15-10) against the world No. 1-ranked team of Ana Patricia Silva Ramos and Eduarda (Duda) Santos Lisboa of Brazil in the women’s beach volleyball final on Friday at Eiffel Tower Stadium.

    Seventh-ranked Canada (5-3) won four elimination matches in a row after going a shaky 1-2 in pool play to earn its spot in the final. The Canadians are the first team in Olympic history to advance to the final after being forced to play a lucky-loser match for not finishing in the top two in their pool.

    It also marked the best-ever finish for a Canadian volleyball team. Canada had won just one volleyball medal in Olympic history before Friday — bronze by John Child and Mark Heese in men’s beach in 1996. Humana-Paredes’ dad, Hernan, coached that team.

    It was the 24th medal for Canada at Paris 2024, tying the country’s record for a non-boycotted Summer Games set three years ago in Tokyo. Canada has several chances to break the record on the penultimate day of competition on Saturday.

    The game got testy in the third set with the teams exchanging words at the net and an official having to separate them after Brazil took a 12-7 lead. Hilariously, game ops played “Imagine” by John Lennon in an effort to find peace after the argument.

    Brazil, which went a perfect 7-0 at the Olympics, won a marathon first set after fighting back from an 8-2 deficit. Brazil finally finished it on its fourth set point after Canada had two of its own.

    But Canada responded in a big way. Midway through the second set, Canada went on a four-point run and never led back. Humana-Paredes caused all kinds of trouble on serve for Brazil.

    The Brazilians, now 4-1 all-time against Humana-Paredes and Wilkerson, won silver at last year’s world championships and bronze in 2022.

    Humana-Paredes, with Sarah Pavan, and Wilkerson, with Heather Bansley, both lost in the quarterfinals in Tokyo three years ago before joining forces as a new team.

    Humana-Paredes and Wilkerson were indoor volleyball teammates at York University early last decade.

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    The Canadian beach volleyball team of Sarah Pavan and Melissa Humana-Paredes made history by winning the silver medal at the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour event in Edmonton, Canada. The duo faced tough competition from the Brazilian team of Agatha Bednarczuk and Eduarda “Duda” Lisboa in the final match, ultimately falling short in a hard-fought battle.

    Despite the loss, Pavan and Humana-Paredes put on an impressive performance throughout the tournament, showcasing their skill and teamwork on the sand. The Canadian duo has been a force to be reckoned with on the international beach volleyball circuit, consistently ranking among the top teams in the world.

    Pavan and Humana-Paredes have been playing together since 2016 and have developed a strong partnership both on and off the court. Their chemistry and communication have been key factors in their success, allowing them to compete at the highest level against some of the best teams in the world.

    The silver medal finish in Edmonton is a significant achievement for Pavan and Humana-Paredes, as it marks their first podium finish on home soil. The Canadian fans came out in full force to support their team, creating an electric atmosphere at the event and cheering them on every step of the way.

    While the loss to Brazil was undoubtedly disappointing, Pavan and Humana-Paredes can take pride in their performance and use it as motivation to continue improving and striving for even greater success in the future. With their talent, determination, and unwavering dedication to their sport, there is no doubt that this dynamic duo will continue to make waves in the world of beach volleyball.