OH, CANADA

Most prognosticators have Canada winning in the vicinity of 20 medals, with a modest gold-medal total almost certain to be measured by the fingers of one hand.

Our Postmedia projections call for 21 Canadian visits to the medal stand, with two athletes reaching the top of the podium. (Sports Illustrated, meanwhile, is a tad more bullish, giving four gold to Canada.)

The consensus top two choices, however, are reigning world champion paddler Mark de Jonge in the men’s K-1, 200 metres, and world silver medallist Brianne Theisen-Eaton in heptathlon. Beyond that pair, there are several podium prospects on a young Canadian team that is hoping to top the 18 medals won four years earlier in London.

Among those garnering some serious attention will be the Canadian women’s soccer team, off to a rousing start with an upset 2-0 win over favoured Australia on Wednesday. Next up is a date with Zimbabwe on Saturday.

Track observers around the world are keen to see how young Canadian sprinter Andre De Grasse fares at his first Olympics. The Pan Am Games champ in his hometown Toronto last summer, he won bronze at the world championship in 2015.

The Olympic track meet figures to be a strong one for Canada with Theisen-Eaton, world champion pole vaulter Shawn Barber and world champion high jumper Derek Drouin all strong medal threats.

As many as three medals could come from the paddling events, with kayaker Adam van Koeverden, a four-time medallist, expected to retire after Rio. News you can use: Of the 314 Canadians scheduled to compete for Canada across 34 sports, 186 are women and 128 are men.