Our Olympic group of seven
Women dominate list of athletes with local ties pushing for the podium at the Tokyo Summer Games
WATERLOO REGION — It’s a magnificent seven.
A septet of athletes that grew up, trained or competed in Waterloo Region before moving on to the world stage in their respective sports.
Now, it’s their time to shine at the Tokyo Summer Olympics.
You’ll find them around Japan on the water, field, mat, fairway, sand and in the boxing ring beginning Wednesday — for softball and soccer — before Friday’s opening ceremonies officially kick off the Games, which conclude on Aug. 8.
It has been a long haul to get to this point.
Athletes trained to peak last summer before learning the Olympics were being postponed one year due to the pandemic, which still lingers.
And it will be silent in the stands this time around since fans have been banned from attending events with Tokyo operating in a state of emergency as COVID-19 cases rise.
The Associated Press reports there have been 60 Games-related infections — including three athletes — since people starting pouring into Japan this month.
The local contingent is strong with legitimate medal contenders.
One, defender Shelina Zadorsky, has already won a bronze medal with Canada’s women’s soccer team at the 2016 Summer Games in Rio.
Here’s a closer look at the roster, in alphabetical order:
Mandy Bujold, boxing From: Cobourg
Age: 33
Watch: women’s flyweight starts July 25
Tokyo tidbits: Bujold is the first female Canadian boxer to compete in consecutive Olympics after finishing fifth at the Rio Games in 2016. She failed to qualify for this year’s Games at first since she was pregnant and postpartum during the qualification period. But she appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and it ruled in her favour. Bujold lives in Kitchener and trains under coach Syd Vanderpool.
Corey Conners, golf From: Listowel Age: 29 Watch: men’s first round starts
July 29
Tokyo tidbits: He hails from Listowel, but we’re including the Kitchener-born golfer on the list. Conners turned pro six years ago and has become one of Canada’s top golfers. He won the Valero Texas Open in 2019 and has seven top-10 finishers and more than $3.5 million (U.S.) in prize money on the PGA Tour this year.
Hamoon Derafshipour, karate
From: Kermanshah, Iran
Age: 28
Watch: men’s 67-kilogram kumite starts Aug. 5
Tokyo tidbits: The Waterloo resident will compete in the men’s 67-kilogram kumite karate event, as part of Team Refugee as the sport makes its Olympic debut. Derafshipour left Iran for Canada so his wife and coach, Samira Malekipour, could accompany him to the Games and work his corner, something that wasn’t allowed by his birth country. Derafshipour was a bronze medallist at the 2018 world karate championships.
Brooklyn Moors, gymnastics From: Cambridge
Age: 20
Watch: women’s artistic gymnastics starts July 25
Tokyo tidbits: Moors started competitive gymnastics when she was six and has become one of Canada’s most consistent gymnasts. She was part of the country’s silver-medal-winning team at the 2019 Pan American Games and won gold in the floor exercise. She has cracked the all-around final in the past three world championships. Her older sister, Victoria, placed fifth as part of Canada’s artistic gymnastics team at the 2012 London Olympics.
Sarah Pavan, beach volleyball
From: Kitchener
Age: 34
Watch: women’s beach volleyball starts July 24
Tokyo tidbits: The Forest Heights Collegiate Institute graduate dominated indoor volleyball before switching to beach. Pavan made it to the quarterfinals at the 2016 Rio Games with former teammate Heather Bansley. The six-footfour Pavan is the defending beach volleyball world champion with current partner Melissa Humana-Paredes and a serious medal threat.
Shelina Zadorsky, soccer From: Kitchener Age: 28
Watch: Canada opens against Japan on July 21
Tokyo tidbits: She cut her teeth with Kitchener minor soccer before moving to London as a teenager. The defender has 72 caps with the national team and was part of the Canadian crew that won bronze at the 2016 Rio Games. She currently plays for Tottenham Hotspur in the English FA
Women’s Super League.
Carling Zeeman, rowing From: Cambridge
Age: 30
Watch: women’s single sculls heats start July 23
Tokyo tidbits: The Woodland Christian High School graduate is a former competitive speedskater and volleyball player. She is back for her second Olympics after finishing 10th in single sculls at the 2016 Rio Games.
Zeeman secured her spot in Tokyo after placing sixth at the 2019 world championships.
Others to watch: Rower Jakub Buczek and mountain biker Peter Disera were both born in Kitchener but grew up elsewhere. Guelph has a trio of athletes competing — Andrea Seccafien (athletics), Kaleigh Rafter (softball) and Natalie Achonwa (basketball). Ryan Macdonald, a Laurier graduate and former Golden Hawks rugby player, is the strength and conditioning coach for Canada’s beach volleyball team.
Josh Brown is a Waterloo Regionbased reporter focusing on sports for The Record. Reach him via email: jbrown@therecord.com