Canada adds another team to Olympic squad

VANCOUVER – The 2020 Canadian Summer Olympics team got a little bigger over the weekend.

The Canadian men’s volleyball squad clinched their spot for the Tokyo Summer Olympics with a victory over Puerto Rico last night.

In a Olympic qualification tournament, Canada hosted Cuba, Mexico, and Puerto Rico in Vancouver’s Pacific Coliseum.

The tournament wasn’t easy for the undefeated Canadians.

Canada had a strong start to the tournament, as they defeated Mexico 3-0 (25-16, 25-14, 25-17).

In their second match, Canada took on the 2019 North American Champions Cuba. Needing a huge come back after falling in the first two sets (22-25, 22-25) Canada rallied to take the game against the Cubans by winning the last three sets (25-12, 25-21, 15-9).

In their final match looking to secure the Olympic birth, Canada knocked off Puerto Rico in three straight sets (25-21, 25-12, 25-15).

By going undefeated, Canada will return to the Olympics. Their last appearance coming in the 2016 Rio Olympics where they finished in fifth.

The men’s volleyball team will join many other Canadian teams an athletes the have already qualified for Tokyo, via the 2019 Pan American Games, and other tournaments.

Current teams heading to Tokyo include:

  • Men’s field hockey;
  • Men’s and women’s rugby sevens;
  • Women’s softball;
  • Women’s water polo;
  • Men’s and women’s canoeing and rowing;
  • Men’s and women’s gymnastics;
  • Equestrian teams;

 

Canada still has multiple teams and many individual athletes still looking to qualify including:

  • Men’s soccer team (can qualify in Apr. in Mexico);
  • Women’s soccer team (can qualify in Feb. in USA);
  • Men’s basketball (can qualify in June in Victoria, BC);
  • Women’s basketball (can qualify in Feb. in Belgium);

 

Canada will be looking to surpass their 2016 medal count of 22 (four gold, three silver, 15 bronze), when Tokyo welcomes the world on July 24.

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