Things don’t always go well at the Olympics. Whether it’s a poor performance, a scandal or bad luck, tough disappointments are inevitable. With the time of reckoning fast approaching and it can be difficult to keep score after two weeks of competition, here’s a look back at eight painful moments for Canada in Paris.

1. The roar of discord

The Games had not even started when a storm of international proportions hit the country. Before a duel against New Zealand, the Canadian team was caught red-handed and no kindness! Analyst Joseph Lombardi was caught piloting a drone to film the opponent’s training, a practice apparently widespread in the national team. The penalty of six ranking points led to the Canadians playing with too much emotion until the loss to Germany. The athletes had nothing to do with this questionable practice, but Canada saw its reputation damaged and a solid medal hope lost.

2. Basketball failures

With 11 players with NBA experience in the squad, it was logical to think that the Canadian men’s basketball team could aspire to a place on the podium. After an impeccable performance in the group stage, the Canadians performed very poorly against the French in the quarterfinals and were eliminated. Throughout the tournament, Jamal Murray, the star of the Denver Nuggets, seemed particularly withdrawn. This is the second time that France has eliminated Canada at the Olympics, after a first disappointment in 2000.

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3. Not easy for De Grasse

Sprinter Andre De Grasse was unrecognisable on an individual level compared to his performances at the Tokyo Games three years ago and in Rio 2016. The six-time Olympic medallist failed to even qualify for the 100m and 200m finals in Paris. However, he was the reigning Olympic champion in the 200m. A thigh injury and the legal problems of his coach Rana Reider certainly did not help his cause. Thankfully, he made a devilish comeback with his teammates in the 4 x 100m relay.

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4. As soon as you arrive, as soon as you leave

Boxer Tammara Thibeault, 27, was one of the biggest medal hopes and aimed for nothing less than the top step of the podium. A gold medalist at the Pan American Championships and the 2022 World Championships, she had not suffered a defeat since the Tokyo Games. In Paris, she was the third favorite in the 75 kg category. However, the dangerous Cindy winner Djankey Ngamba of the Refugee Team put an end to the dream of the Quebecer, who could not hold back her tears afterwards. The whole country wanted to hug her.

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5. The king of the decathlon was dethroned

Damian Warner surprised the world at the Tokyo Games by becoming Olympic champion in the gruelling decathlon. However, the two-time Olympic medallist in the event failed in Paris, with three unsuccessful attempts over 4.60m in the pole vault ruling out any chance of a medal. At the age of 34, all indications are that this was his last chance to dominate the Olympics.

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6. Judo massacre

Canada had plenty of medal hopes in judo and only Christa Deguchi saved the day. The Canadian delegation included no less than three judokas who were among the top five in the world in their category. Despite all the hopes, Arthur Margelidon (73 kg), Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard (63 kg) and François Gauthier-Drapeau (81 kg) all finished in seventh place. Very unfortunate for what coach and Olympic medalist Antoine Valois-Fortier had described as a dream team before the Games.

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7. No magic on wheels

In Tokyo, Lévisienne surprised Lauriane Genest by winning bronze in the keirin, in track cycling. Expectations were therefore high for her and her compatriot Kelsey Mitchell, who won gold in the sprint at the same Games. This time, the two Canadians had to make do with a place in the quarter-finals in the individual keirin, despite suffering and suffering in the repechage. Both then finished sixth and last in their heats.

Photo credit: AFP Photo

8. The fall of Mohammed

Mohammed Ahmed left Tokyo with a silver medal in the 5000m. He leaves Paris with bruises. With just over a lap to go over the same distance, the Canadian medal hopeful suffered a fall. One of Ahmed’s greatest achievements is that he refused to give up and kept going until he finally had to settle for 16th^e Rank. On his other favorite distance, the 10,000 m, he remained at the foot of the podium in fourth place.

Photo credit: AFP

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