The Canadian women’s 3×3 basketball team’s journey to the Olympic Games has been strewn with pitfalls. It began in the summer of 2019 with a group of women who funded themselves so that they could participate in tournaments in Europe relying only on themselves and a baby that they carried everywhere.
Today, Katherine Plouffe, Michelle Plouffe, Kacie Bosch and Paige Crozon (mom of Poppy, a five-year-old girl) are on their way to Paris 2024. The team will be the very first to represent Canada in 3×3 basketball since that this discipline was added to the Olympic program at the Tokyo 2020 Games.
“It’s an incredible honor to be named to the first-ever Canadian Olympic 3×3 basketball team,” said Crozon. I am thrilled to continue performing alongside these remarkable women, whose resilience and dedication inspire me every day. The bonds we share and the trust we have built are the foundations of our team’s strength. I would also like to warmly thank our coach, Kim Gaucher, for her valuable insights and knowledge. Together, we are ready to take on the world and represent our communities and Canada with pride. »
“We have our eyes on the podium, but so will the other seven teams,” said Michelle Plouffe. We know that the task will be difficult in such a tough group, but we have worked hard to get there. Sometimes we have taken the long hard road to ultimately prepare ourselves for what is to come. I am confident that our team will be ready to play — physically, mentally and emotionally. When I step on the pitch in Paris, I’m just going to enjoy the moment since you never know what can happen. I have loved every aspect of this journey, the challenges and obstacles we have faced and it will all be more rewarding once we get to the other side. I’m excited when I think of July and being in Paris to perform on the most important stage in the world.”
In Paris, Team Canada will look to do what it does best: play to win without losing sight of the fun of the sport. This team philosophy has served her well since 2019, when she won four of the seven tournaments she entered during that first summer of competition. The team won the 2022 FIBA AmeriCup 3×3 and were silver medalists at the 2022 FIBA 3×3 Basketball World Cup. The quartet also won the Women’s 3×3 Basketball Series of FIBA in 2022 and 2023.
READ: Team Canada’s women’s 3×3 basketball team journeys to Paris with a focus on passion
Cohesion represents the strength of this team, but each member of Team Canada can boast of having a formidable track record.
Twins Katherine and Michelle Plouffe are the two highest-ranked players in the world, occupying first and second place, respectively, in the FIBA 3×3 individual basketball world rankings. Michelle will be making her third Olympic appearance at Paris 2024, having represented Canada on the senior women’s national team at London 2012 and Rio 2016. For her part, Katherine will be making her second Olympic Games, having had joined her sister on the Canadian senior women’s team at Rio 2016.
“I’m super excited to go. It sounds a little crazy, but this will be my third participation in the Olympic Games, says Michelle Plouffe. A few Canadian basketball players have already achieved this, but it will be very special to achieve this in 3×3 basketball. Being part of this program from the start was worth the effort, building everything from scratch. I am proud of everyone who was part of this team and this program, from the staff to the athletes and everyone who supported and encouraged us and who told us to continue working towards achieving the goal. Also, we are grateful to our family and friends who have been there for us through this incredible journey. »
Ranked third in the FIBA 3×3 individual basketball world rankings, Crozon will make his Olympic debut this summer. The team will be completed by Bosch who is at 20e rank in the FIBA 3×3 individual basketball world rankings and who will also be in his first Olympic Games.
Despite their impressive individual and team performance, Team Canada narrowly qualified for the Olympic Games during the last Olympic qualifying tournament. She suffered a heartbreaking late defeat against Spain in the semi-finals, but bounced back in the third-place match, delivering a dominant performance against hosts Hungary to secure her spot. Olympic.
“I would like to express my deepest gratitude for all the support we have received over the past few weeks and for the continued encouragement from our families, especially my daughter Poppy. This trip would not be possible without them. We also hope that young girls share our enthusiasm and see that their dreams are within reach. I remember watching the Olympics in a small rural community in Saskatchewan, dreaming of this opportunity,” said Crozon.
READ: Canada’s 3×3 team talks basketball, humility and the road to the Paris 2024 Olympics
If the Plouffe sisters bring all their Olympic experience to Paris 2024, the team will also be able to count on the great knowledge of coach Kim Gaucher, who participated in three Olympic Games and is a former captain of the senior women’s national team. After participating in the Tokyo 2020 Games as a player, Gaucher will have no time to lose pace as she will make her debut at Paris 2024 in a coaching role.
“These women are pioneers in the world of 3×3 basketball,” Gaucher said. They embarked on this journey with the dream of growing the game across Canada and reaching the Olympic stage. Over the years, their journey has been filled with ups and downs, with passports marked by experiences across the world. Now, finally, they have the chance to shine before the eyes of all of Canada and the world. »
Canada is one of eight women’s teams that will participate in the 3×3 women’s basketball competition which will take place from July 30 to August 5 in La Concorde, where an urban sports park has been built on the historic Place de la Concorde.
Team Canada 3×3 basketball athletes at Paris 2024:
Kacie Bosch (Lethbridge, AB)
Paige Crozon (Humboldt, SK)
Katherine Plouffe (Edmonton, AB)
Michelle Plouffe (Edmonton, AB)
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