2024 Olympics Day 10 Recap: Canada pulls off major upset in women's beach volleyball, as women's 3x3 basketball team falls short of bronze
Canada continues to flex its strength at the Summer Games in Paris
While the watching experience and timing for the 2024 Paris Olympics isn't quite as challenging for Canadian viewers as it was for Tokyo 2020 or Beijing 2022, a good chunk of action during these Games happens when plenty of Canadians are fast asleep.
Whether you were crushing some zzz's, busy at work, had family activities to partake in or just didn't have a chance to tune in, we have you covered throughout these Olympics from start to finish, with Team Canada currently sitting at 17 medals.
Here's what you may have missed on Day 10, including a massive upset in beach volleyball, a missed opportunity in 3x3 basketball, and Andre De Grasse advancing in the men's 200-metre.
Canada pulls off straight-sets upset of USA to advance in women's beach volleyball
Canada pulled off a big-time upset to advance to the quarterfinals in women’s beach volleyball, defeating the World No. 2 American squad on Monday.
The Canadian duo, featuring Brandie Wilkerson and Melissa Humana-Paredes, is the final team to qualify for the round of 16 after toppling the American team of Taryn Kloth and Kristen Nuss. The Canadian pair was ranked fourth heading in the Paris Olympics, while Kloth and Nuss entered the Games as the second-ranked team and arguably the gold-medal favourite.
Dug deep for a dub 🏐
🇨🇦 Beach volleyball duo Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson advance to the quarterfinals 🙌
Watch #Paris2024 on CBC Gem | @CBCOlympics pic.twitter.com/mbqGHbBvDU— Team Canada (@TeamCanada) August 5, 2024
As expected, it was quite the battle for the Canadian side, which overcame an early five-point deficit before eventually taking a nail-biter of a first set 21-19. The second frame was also a tight one, with Canada grabbing an early lead before the American duo came storming back. Wilkerson and Humana-Parades were able to hold on and take the second set 21-18 to seal a Canadian victory.
Canada took out the US in beach volleyball.
Beating the arrogant Americans in front of their obnoxious fans is sweeeeeet!— Jack Todd (@jacktodd46) August 5, 2024
Big upset in beach volleyball. Canadians Humana-Paredes and Wilkerson defeat world #2 Nuss and Kloth from the USA. They move on to the qtr’s. Canada hasn’t won an Olympic medal since bronze at Atlanta 1996
— Andi Petrillo (@AndiPetrillo) August 5, 2024
We just lost to Canada in beach volleyball. Canada.
How is that even possible. Do they even have beaches.— Everett Corder 🌵 (@Evcorder) August 5, 2024
Canada advances to the knockout stage in women’s beach volleyball for the second straight Olympic Games. Wilkerson and Humana-Parades will face Tania Moreno Matveeva and Daniela Alvarez Mendoza of Spain in Wednesday's quarterfinal.
Canada falls to USA for bronze medal in women's 3x3 basketball
The Canadian women's 3x3 basketball team fell short of a medal on Monday, losing to the Americans in the bronze-medal game after falling to Germany in the semifinals earlier in the day.
Just like the Canada-Germany semifinal, this one came right down to the wire. Dearica Hamby gave the Americans their first lead of the contest with just over a minute remaining before Cierra Burdick nailed a free throw — but missed the second — to give Team USA a two-point lead with 39 seconds left.
A couple of Canada's two-point attempts over the final seconds missed and timely rebounding by the United States put Burdick at the free-throw line, where she made one-of-two to essentially ice it for the Americans with seven seconds remaining.
Heartbreak for Canada’s 3x3 team. Just lost to USA for bronze. #Olympic2024 pic.twitter.com/NZ0ExvP3uM
— Lindsay Dunn (@LindsayDunnTV) August 5, 2024
Canada's gold-medal dreams were dashed earlier in the day when Germany pulled off a thrilling 16-15 win over Canada in the women's 3x3 semifinal, with Sonja Greinacher dropping the game-winning bucket on a drive with just one second remaining.
Canadian star Michelle Plouffe tied the contest at 15-15 with less than 15 seconds left, before the top-ranked German side secured the dramatic victory.
Canada took down Australia in a play-in game to reach the semifinals before losing to Germany.
Team USA, meanwhile, miraculously earned a medal after dropping its first three contests of the Paris Games — following that up with four-straight wins to reach the semifinals before a loss to Spain set up the bronze-medal match with Canada.
“This sucks. I wish my neck was a bit heavier right now…. But I am happy to know we grew 3x3 in Canada.” https://t.co/Q9jmePRrPd pic.twitter.com/mJtQtXCbby
— Lindsay Dunn (@LindsayDunnTV) August 5, 2024
So proud of you Team Canada! You did so well and were a historic first 3X3 team for Canada at the Olympics. You played well and made your country proud! 🫶🏼🇨🇦👏
— Alyssa (@alyssachuk13) August 5, 2024
More Team Canada news on Day 10
Andre De Grasse qualifies for the men's 200m semifinal beginning at 2 p.m. ET on Wednesday
Alysha Newman advances into the women's pole vault final, which takes place Wednesday, Aug. 7 at 1 p.m. ET
Caeli McKay to compete in the women's 10m final beginning Tuesday, Aug. 6 at 9 a.m. ET