Meet the Manitobans looking to top the podium at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games

The 2024 Paris Olympics are just around the corner, and several Manitobans are set to compete at the Games, which begin July 26 and run to Aug. 11

Meet the six athletes from Canada’s middle province, and one former Manitoban, who are set to don the maple leaf in Paris.

Skylar Park — taekwondo

Skylar Park makes her return to the Olympic stage after her debut at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, where she reached the quarter finals.

Park will undoubtedly have her eyes on the podium in Paris, especially after winning gold in four separate competitions last year, which included the top spot at the Taiyuan World Taekwondo Grand Prix in China and then the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile.

In an interview with CBC during Canada’s national junior and cadet championships in Winnipeg in early July, Park said while the pressure’s on, she’s learned lots since the Tokyo Games, where she reached the quarterfinals in the 57-kilogram category. 

WATCH | ‘Dream big,’ Skylar Park says in March 2024 interview:

“I’ve learned how to handle those nerves, and handle that pressure, and so coming into this Games, I’m really coming in with a different perspective this time,” she said. 

“The goal for me is always a gold medal and to stand on top of that podium.”

Kelsey Wog — swimming 

Kelsey Wog will be looking for redemption in her second trip to the Olympics. 

At the Tokyo Games in 2021, Wog didn’t make it past the preliminary round in the 100-metre breaststroke and was disqualified in semifinals of the 200-metre breaststroke for using a dolphin kick. But that’s in the rear-view now. 

Wog punched her ticket to Paris back in May, finishing second in the women’s 200-metre breaststroke final at Canada’s Olympic and Paralympic swim trials in Toronto, with a time of 2:23.80 — just 1/100th of a second back of event winner Sydney Pickrem.

Wog, 25, told CBCs after the swim trials in May while the sun is setting on her swimming career, there’s plenty of daylight left as she gears up for her second Olympics. 

“I don’t think I ever dreamed that I’d be able to call myself a two-time Olympian, let alone a one-time Olympian,” Wog said back in May.

“I’m just really grateful that I was able to hold on for two Olympic cycles, and I’m just really looking forward to representing Team Canada.”

Tyler Mislawchuk — triathlon 

Tyler Mislawchuk is no stranger to the Olympic stage, but he’s hoping the third time’s the charm. 

The 29-year-old from Oak Bluff will compete in his third Olympic Games, after finishing 15th at both the 2016 Rio Games and the 2020 Tokyo Games.

The men’s triathlon is set for July 30 and will feature a 1,500-metre swim in the Seine river, followed by a 40K bike and a 10K run. 

WATCH | Paris mayor joins others in Seine River swim to quell water safety fears:

In a statement to The Canadian Press in June, Mislawchuk said he was excited to make the team as an underdog for his first Olympics in Rio, and then came in stronger for his second Games in Tokyo, but ended up getting injured. 

“I just hope my story shows that if a small town kid who grew up in the middle of the Prairies in Oak Bluff, Man., training in minus 50 degrees can make it to the Summer Olympics, then anyone can get there and compete against the best in the world,” Mislawchuk said in his statement. 

Eric Loeppky and Luke Herr — volleyball 

Seven players on the Canadian volleyball squad are making their debut at the Games, including two from Manitoba — 24-year-old Eric Loeppky and 29-year-old Luke Herr.

The Canadian men’s volleyball team is making its sixth Summer Games appearance, with a fourth-place finish at the 1984 Los Angeles Games its best result. Canada placed eighth at the Tokyo Games in 2021.

The team booked its ticket to Paris in October 2023, sweeping Mexico 3-0 at the men’s Olympic qualifying tournament in Xi’an, China. It was Loeppky who led the way for Canada in the match, with 16 points, including eight aces. 

Loeppky recently told CBC’s Up To Speed he’s had lots of support from people in his hometown of Steinbach. 

“I’m blown away with the amount of support I’ve gotten,” he said. “Just family and friends and the general community of Steinbach — it’s been really, really cool.” 

Herr is another key cog in the Canadian men’s volleyball machine. He rose through the ranks of the national program and is now the starting setter for the senior men’s team. 

Herr is an alumnus of the University of Manitoba Bisons men’s team, and has played professionally in Germany and the Netherlands. He’s played pro volleyball in Greece since 2022. 

Shae La Roche — water polo 

Over in the pool, Shae La Roche is among a number of returning players to Canada’s women’s water polo team, which placed seventh at the Tokyo Games.

La Roche provided valuable offence output for the team, tying for second place on the team with 10 goals at the event.

She also won silvers at the Pan American Games in 2015 and 2019 and was also part of the squad that captured silver at the FINA World League super finals in 2017.

Kelsey Mitchell — cycling (track)

Born in Brandon but now living in Alberta, Mitchell has been touted as an “overnight success” since she didn’t take up track cycling until age 24 but became a world record holder just two years later, winning a gold medal at the 2019 Pan Am Games.

Mitchell won gold in the women’s sprint on the last day of competition in the Tokyo Olympics and is determined to defend her medal.

Mitchell recently told CBC’s Information Radio that she’s headed to Paris “for business” and to “win some more medals.” 

“It’s been a roller-coaster, honestly. The Tokyo Olympics was amazing,” she said.

Because the COVID-19 pandemic pushed the Tokyo competition back to 2021, “we had an extra year of training, which actually benefited me. [I] showed up in the shape of my life and walked away with a gold medal,” she said. 

Since then, there have been “a lot of ups and downs,” she said.

“[I] learned a lot about the body and how hard I can actually push myself, and dealing with some back injuries,” but “to get on the line and feel good again and race to the best of my abilities will be a big win for me,” said Mitchell. 

“Honestly, I just really want to win a medal for Canada.” 

Scott gets Olympic nod as alternate 

Winnipeg’s Desiree Scott will make the trip to her fourth Olympics, but this time as an alternate for Canada’s women’s soccer team. 

Scott was initially left off the roster when it was announced July 1, but a recent injury to defender Sydney Collins saw her elevated to an alternate role. 

The 36-year-old won gold with the team in Tokyo at the most recent Summer Olympics and won bronze with the squad in both the 2016 Rio and 2012 London Games.

Scott has been a member of the national team since 2010 and has made 187 international appearances for the country. 

She said in an Instagram post that the development is a “script not even I could have written.” 

Meanwhile, the team’s head coach, Bev Priestman, said readiness, high trust and positive contribution to the team’s culture were attributes considered in picking the group’s Olympic alternates. 

Priestman said Scott “absolutely” brings those qualities to the team.

“You can just feel her energy. She’s a super positive person,” said Priestman.