Water Polo Canada announces Women's National Team set to compete in Doha for a qualification spot towards Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Canada aims to win one of the last two Paris 2024 Olympic Games spots available at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships in Qatar

Ottawa, December 20, 2023 - Water Polo Canada announced today the 15 women who have been selected to represent the country at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships with the objective of securing one of the last two spots available for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games women’s water polo tournament. The 2024 World Aquatics Championships will be held February 2-18 in Doha, Qatar.

The Canadian Women’s National Team for the 2024 World Aquatics Championships will include:

BAKOC, Verica (Toronto, ON) - Mavericks
BROWNE, Serena (Pointe-Claire, QC) - DDO
CARROLL, Floranne (Montréal, QC) - CAMO
CREVIER, Axelle (Montréal, QC) - CAMO
GAUDREAULT, Jessica (Ottawa, ON) - Capital Wave
GUÈVREMONT, Daphné (Montréal, QC) - CAMO
LA ROCHE, Shae (Winnipeg, MB) - Winnipeg Bushido/EAU Laval
LEKNESS, Rae (Calgary, AB) - Calgary Renegades
LEMAY-LAVOIE, Elyse (Montréal, QC) - CAMO
MCDOWELL, Blaire (Fernie, B.C.) - Water Polo Saskatchewan
McKELVEY, Hayley (North Delta, B.C.) - Pacific Storm
MIMIDES, Maria Eleni (Marilia) (Glyfada, GRE, & Toronto, ON) - DDO
PAUL, Kindred (Spruce Grove, AB) - Edmonton Tsunami - Edmonton Tsunami
VULPISI, Clara (Montréal, QC) - CAMO
WRIGHT, Emma (Whitby, ON) - Scarborough Shadow Water polo

Alternate: DAVIS, Lucy (Port Moody, B.C.) - Pacific Storm

Hélène Painchaud from Montréal, QC, will for her part be attending the 2024 World Aquatics Championships as a referee.

In order to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at these 2024 World Aquatics Championships, the Canadian Team will have to be one of the top two teams among those that have not already qualified for the Olympic Games. This will represent the last qualification event and opportunity for the team heading towards the Paris Olympic Games. The women’s teams that have already qualified are: Australia, China, France, the Netherlands, South Africa, Spain and the United States. One additional country will also qualify at the 2024 European Championships, to be held January 5-13.

At the 2024 World Aquatics Championships, Canada will be in Group 4 with Italy, South Africa and a European country to be determined following the European Championships. The group stage schedule for the Canadian team will be as follows:
-February 4: South Africa
-February 6: European country to be confirmed
-February 8: Italy

Before the Championships, the Canadian Team will travel to California for a training camp with Team USA. They will then fly to Brisbane to continue their preparation with Team Australia. USA and Australia have both already qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games women’s water polo tournament.

Water Polo Canada Women’s National Team Support Staff for the 2024 World Aquatics Championships
Head Coach: David Paradelo
Assistant Coaches: Cora Campbell & Stefano Posterivo
Massage Therapist: Manon Prieur
Physiotherapist: Brian Li
Mental Performance Coach (preparatory training camp): Sommer Christie
Video Coach: Francisco Zelaya
Team Manager: Mitch Kaufman
High Performance Director: Olivier Pineau

More information regarding the female athletes is available on Water Polo Canada’s website at https://waterpolo.ca/content/senior-womens-national-team.