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

The 2024 Paris Olympicsare just around the corner, and several Manitobans are set to compete at the Games, which beginJuly 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.

SkylarPark 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 championshipsin Winnipeg in early July,Park said while the pressure's on, she's learned lots since theTokyo Games, where she reached the quarterfinals in the 57-kilogramcategory.

WATCH | 'Dream big,' Skylar Park says inMarch 2024 interview:

A Manitoba Olympian kicks off her journey to Paris by inspiring girls to dream big

5 months ago

Duration 2:13

Skylar Park, who competed in the Tokyo Olympics in Taekwondo, is kicking off her next Olympic run with an event honouring International Women's Day. The 24-year-old took over her family's martial arts academy in Winnipeg Saturday to teach the next generation of girl practitioners how she does it, before she sets off to Paris for the 2024 Summer Olympics.

"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 medaland 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 2:23.80just 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 Bluffwill 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:

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

2 months ago

Duration 1:21

Anne Hidalgo, the mayor of Paris, was among a group of locals and invited members of the media to take a dip in the River Seine on Wednesday. The body of water is central to many aquatic sports at the 2024 Paris Olympics and critics are concerned about the waters cleanliness for athletes.

In a statement to The Canadian Press in June, Mislawchuk saidhe 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 Loeppkyand Luke Herr volleyball

Eight players on the Canadian volleyball squad are making their debut at the Games, including twofrom Manitoba 24-year-old Eric Loeppky and 29-year-oldLuke 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 Mexico3-0 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 toldCBC's Up To Speed he's hadlots 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 Steinbachit's been really, really cool."

Up To Speed10:04Steinbach couple rallying in support of a local volleyball player heading to the Olympics

Eric Loeppky is a volleyball player from Steinbach who's heading to the Paris Olympics later this summer. He's being rallied on by Steinbach resident and former Olympic athlete Michelle Sawatzky-Koop. They spoke with guest host Chloe Friesen.

Herr is another key cog in the Canadian men's volleyball machine. He rosethrough 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 returningplayers 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 squadthat captured silverat the FINA World League super finals in 2017.

Kelsey Mitchellcycling (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 butbecame a world record holder just two years later, winning a gold medal at the 2019 Pan Am Games.

Mitchellwon gold in the women's sprint on the last day of competition inthe Tokyo Olympics and is determinedto defend her medal.

Mitchell recently toldCBC's Information Radiothat 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, "wehad 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 "alot 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 abilitieswill be a big win for me," said Mitchell.

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

Scott getsOlympic nod asalternate

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 defenderSydney Collins saw her elevated to an alternate role.

The 36-year-old won gold with the team in Tokyo at the most recent Summer Olympicsand 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 thedevelopment is a "script not even I could have written."

Meanwhile, the team's head coach,Bev Priestman, said readiness, high trust and positive contributionto the team's culture were attributes considered inpicking the group's Olympic alternates.

Priestman saidScott"absolutely" brings those qualities to the team.

"You can just feel her energy. She's a super positive person," said Priestman.

• See full coverage of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games