Canadians who posted big week one results at Rio 2016
With over 11,000 athletes competing in Rio, simple math tells us the vast majority will be leaving without an Olympic medal.
But reaching the podium isn’t the only way to gauge an athlete’s success on the Olympic stage. Competitors from all over the world have stepped up in Rio to post personal bests and set new national records.
So let’s take a look at some Canadians who put in big-time (but non-medal-winning) performances in the first week of competition in Rio.
Eleanor Harvey (Fencing)
Related: Harvey upsets world number one
Eleanor Harvey of Canada celebrates after defeating Arianna Errigo of Italy in a women’s individual foil event at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
In her first Olympics, the 21-year-old from Hamilton, Ontario finished seventh in the women’s individual foil, the best-ever result for a Canadian fencer. Even better? Harvey knocked off world No. 1 Arriana Errigo of Italy along the way.
Antoine Bouchard (Judo)
Related: Bouchard headlines judokas headed to Rio
Canada’s Antoine Bouchard takes on Imad Bassou of Morocco during Men’s 66kg Judo, third-round action at the Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, August 7, 2016. (Photo by Jason Ransom)
The 21-year-old from Jonquière, Quebec was an upset machine in the 66kg division, earning victories over No. 2-ranked Tumurkhuleg Davaadorj of Mongolia and No. 3-ranked Mikhail Pulyaev of Russia. Bouchard fell just short of a bronze medal, ultimately finishing in fifth place.
Ellie Black (Artistic Gymnastics)
Related: Black posts Canadian best of fifth in all-around
Ellie Black, Rio 2016. August 11, 2016. COC Photo/Jason Ransom
While the world was swooning over American Simone Biles in the women’s individual all-around final, Black quietly notched the best-ever finish for a Canadian in the event, fifth place. The 20-year-old from Halifax had also helped Canada to fifth place in the team final back at London 2012.
Evan Dunfee (Athletics)
Team Canada’s Ben Thorne, Evan Dunfee, and Inaki Gomez during the 20km race walk at Pontal Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday August 12, 2016. COC Photo/David Jackson
Dunfee won gold in the men’s 20km race walk at last year’s Pan American Games, coming into these Games with high hopes. The 25-year-old finished 10th in the event in Rio, his first Olympics, but is now looking ahead to next week’s 50km event.
Santo Condorelli (Swimming)
Related: Hi, my name is Santo Condorelli and I swim
Santo Condorelli at the Rio 2016 Olympic 100m freestyle semifinal on August 9, 2016.
Women have ruled the pool for Canada this week, but 21-year-old Condorelli nearly added to the nation’s medal haul, finishing just 3/100ths of a second off the podium in the men’s 100m freestyle final.
Arthur Biyarslanov (Boxing)
Related: Biyarslanov boxes his way to the next round
Canada’s Arthur Biyarslanov, right, fights Jordan’s Obada Alkasbeh during a men’s light welterweight 64-kg preliminary boxing match at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Biyarslanov won his opening match in the light welterweight 64kg division, and will compete in a Round of 16 bout on Sunday. The 21-year-old Olympic debutante, who won gold at last summer’s Pan American Games, is looking to win Canada’s first boxing medal since Atlanta 1996.
Sarah Pavan, Heather Bansley, Jamie Broder, Kristina Valjas (Beach Volleyball)
Related: Three beach volleyball duos reach knockout stage
Canada’s Sarah Pavan, left, and Heather Bansley, right, celebrate after winning a women’s beach volleyball match against Switzerland at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2016. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
The two women’s beach volleyball teams (Pavan/Bansley and Broder/Valjas) came through on Copacabana Beach and will face off with each other in the Round of 16 on Saturday, guaranteeing Canada an entrant in the quarterfinals. On the men’s side, Ben Saxton and Chaim Schalk are also into the Round of 16.
