Canada’s Santiago 2023 boxing team announced

Photo courtesy Canadian Olympic Committee

Article courtesy of Canadian Olympic Committee

Toronto. - Boxing Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee have announced Canada’s boxing team nominated to compete at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games.

The Team Canada boxing team for the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games is:

Athletes:

Mckenzie Wright (Oakville, Ont.) – Women’s 50 kg – City Boxing Club

Scarlett Delgado (Brampton, Ont.) – Women’s 54 kg – Destiny Boxing Club

Marie Al-Ahmadieh (Montreal, Que.) – Women’s 57 kg – Pound 4 Pound / National Training Centre

Garinder Takhar (Brampton, Ont.) – Women’s 60 kg – Knockout Brampton

Charlie Cavanagh (Saint John, N.B.) – Women’s 66 kg – Saint John Golden Gloves Boxing Club / National Training Centre

Tammara Thibeault (Shawinigan, Que.) – Women’s 75 kg – National Training Centre

Justin Parina (Mississauga, Ont.) – Men’s 51 kg – Kombat Arts Training Academy / National Training Centre

Victor Tremblay (Montreal, Que.) – Men’s 57 kg – Rival Boxing Gym Rive Nord

Wyatt Sanford (Kennetcook, N.S.) – Men’s 63.5 kg – National Training Centre

Junior Petanqui (Montreal, QC) – Men’s 71 kg – Pound 4 Pound / National Training Centre

Keven Beausejour (Montreal, Que.) – Men’s 80 kg – Club Champion

Bryan Colwell (Victoria, B.C.) – Men’s 92 kg – Victoria Martials Arts

Jérôme Feujio (Montreal, Que.) – Men’s 92+ kg – National Training Centre

The 13 athletes were selected for Team Canada based on their performances at the 2023 Domestic Qualifiers held in Montreal in June 2023 and at the American Boxing Continental Championships (AMBC) held in Cali, Colombia earlier this month.

At the Continental Championships, 12 boxing athletes qualified for the Pan American Games by earning a top-four finish at the event. Given the importance of Santiago 2023 as a direct boxing qualifier for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the International Olympic Committee’s Paris Boxing Unit deemed the competition as open registration. As such, Boxing Canada will send a full team of 13 athletes. 

This will be the second Pan American Games appearance for Tammara Thibeault. She initially came home from Lima 2019 with a bronze medal in the 75kg weight class but was later upgraded to silver after her semifinal opponent was disqualified for doping. In her Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, Thibeault advanced to the quarterfinals, matching Canada’s best ever result in any women’s Olympic boxing event. The reigning Commonwealth Games champion and 2022 World Champion also captured gold at the 2023 AMBC Continental Championships.

“’I am very excited to be participating in my second Pan American Games. These Games are exceptionally special because they are the first Olympic Games qualifiers. I am beyond grateful for the privilege of representing my country on the international stage. I wear the maple leaf proudly,” said Thibeault. “In Lima 2019, I was left with a bitter taste in my mouth, but this time around I am determined and ready for whatever obstacle I have to face in order to be at my best and punch my way to Paris 2024 and bring home a gold medal.’’

Charlie Cavanagh will make her Pan American Games debut at Santiago 2023. The New Brunswick resident captured silver in her world championship debut last year. Her only defeat came against a reigning Olympic and world champion who was fighting in front of her home fans in Turkey. Earlier this month, Cavanagh captured silver at the AMBC Continental Championships.

“I’m elated to be representing Canada at the upcoming Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile! This will be my first Pan Am Games as well as the first of three opportunities to secure a ticket to Paris 2024,” said Cavanagh. “I’m eager as always to compete, and grateful to be doing it alongside an incredible team of talented athletes! I am confident in my abilities and see strong medal potential for our team.”

Wyatt Sanford was the lone man on Team Canada’s Tokyo 2020 boxing team. Sanford, who calls Kennetcock, Nova Scotia home, will also make his Pan American Games debut at Santiago 2023. Sanford won bronze at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and hopes to lock down his spot for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Santiago.

In four of the six women’s events and in all seven men’s events, the top two athletes will qualify themselves directly for Paris 2024. In the women’s 57kg and 60kg events, it will be the top four athletes who will book their Olympic tickets.

“Our team was well positioned and prepared to capitalize on the opportunities presented to us in Cali at the Pan Am Games Qualifier,” said Kraig Devlin, High Performance Director at Boxing Canada. “With approximately six weeks to go until the Pan Am Games, I am very confident that our coaches and athletes will be able to leverage their success in Cali, build on the momentum generated there and perform optimally in Santiago.”

Boxing will take place October 19 to 27 (Day -1 to 7) at the Centre de Entrenamiento Olímpico.

“Gloves up, determination high, Team Canada’s boxing contingent is a force to be reckoned with at the Pan American Games,” said Christine Girard, Team Canada’s Santiago 2023 Chef de Mission. With a total of thirteen fierce athletes that mixes Olympians, seasoned Pan Am veterans including a Lima 2019 medallist, and rookies, this team is poised to fight their way to Olympic berths and bring glory to Canada. I can’t wait to witness their success!”

Team Canada’s boxing team coaches and support staff for the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games are:

Coaches:

Samir El Mais (Montreal, Que.) – Team Coach

Vincent Auclair (Montreal, Que.) – Team Coach

Danielle Bouchard (Montreal, Que.) – Team Coach

Support Staff:

Kraig Devlin (Victoria, B.C.) – High Performance Director / Team Leader

Alexis Gagnon-Dolbec (Montreal, QC) – Mental Performance

Prior to being named to Team Canada, all nominations are subject to approval by the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Team Selection Committee following its receipt of nominations by all National Sport Organisations.