Canada Sport News

Canadian duo Humana-Paredes and Wilkerson victorious in Olympic beach volleyball opener

Canadian duo Humana-Paredes and Wilkerson victorious in Olympic beach volleyball opener

July 29, 2024

Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson’s enjoyed a strong debut as Olympic beach volleyball teammates on Monday.

The Canadians beat Paraguay’s Giuliana Poletti and Michelle Sharon Valiente Amarilla 2-0 (21-16, 21-12) in Paris.

The former York University indoor teammates are ranked third in the world after joining forces in the aftermath of the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where they played with different partners.

“As a new team, we’ve fairly quickly put targets on our backs by positioning ourselves as one of the top teams in the world,” Humana-Paredes told reporters Monday, per the Canadian Olympic Committee. “So I definitely think when people play us, they’re worried. You’ve got to be on your toes.

“It’s a great feeling but at the end of the day we’re here to play really good volleyball and focus on us.”

The Canadians have two silver medals in five World Tour events this year.

Humana-Paredes and Wilkerson, both Toronto natives, next play Switzerland’s Esmee Boebner and Zoe Verge-Depre on Wednesday.

The top two teams in each four-team pool automatically advance to the round of 16.

Canadian beach volleyball duo Sarah Pavan and Melissa Humana-Paredes kicked off their Olympic campaign in style with a convincing victory in their opening match against the Netherlands on Saturday.

The Canadian pair, who are ranked number one in the world, showed why they are considered one of the favorites to win gold in Tokyo with a dominant performance against their Dutch opponents. Pavan and Humana-Paredes won the match in straight sets, 21-16, 21-14, showcasing their skill and chemistry on the sand.

The victory was a strong start for the Canadians, who are looking to improve on their bronze medal finish at the 2019 World Championships. Pavan and Humana-Paredes have been in top form leading up to the Olympics, winning multiple tournaments on the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour and establishing themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the sport.

In their post-match interview, Pavan and Humana-Paredes expressed their excitement at representing Canada on the Olympic stage and their determination to bring home a medal. The duo credited their strong communication and teamwork for their success on the court, emphasizing the importance of trust and support in beach volleyball.

With their impressive performance in their opening match, Pavan and Humana-Paredes have set the tone for the rest of their Olympic campaign. The Canadian duo will look to build on this momentum as they continue to compete against the world’s best beach volleyball teams in Tokyo.

Overall, Pavan and Humana-Paredes’ victory in their Olympic opener is a testament to their skill, dedication, and teamwork. Canadian fans can look forward to more exciting matches from this dynamic duo as they aim to make history at the Tokyo Games.