Two Canadians have created history at Day 3 of the Paris Olympics 2024 by securing gold medals for the country.
World number one Judo player Christa Deguchi, 28, not only won Team Canada’s first gold medal of the season but also became Canada’s first-ever Olympic judo champion.
Deguchi secured the gold in the women’s 57kg judo event after South Korea’s world number three Huh Mimi was disqualified for a false attack, awarding Deguchi the title by default.
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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shared a video of her win with the caption, “History made.”
The second gold medal for Canada was earned by Toronto’s very own 17-year-old swimmer Summer McIntosh.
McIntosh dominated the women’s 400m individual medley final with a time of 4:27.71, finishing 5.69 seconds ahead of the runner-up, Katie Grimes of the United States.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow congratulated the swimmer, and said, “Golden Summer! Congratulations to Torontonian Summer McIntosh on her commanding gold medal win in the 400m medley. It’s great to see #TeamCanada on top of the #Olympics podium.”
In addition to her gold hardware, McIntosh won silver in the 400m freestyle on Day 1 of the games, marking her first career Olympic medal.
With McIntosh’s second win, it marks Canada’s fourth Olympic medal in the women’s 400m individual medley, with the previous medals earned at the Montreal 1976 Olympics by Cheryl Gibson and Becky Smith who won silver and bronze, respectively.
To celebrate Canada’s two gold medalists, Toronto’s CN Tower will be lit gold tonight.
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Meanwhile, many athletes representing Canada have made history this year including divers Rylan Wiens and Nathan Zsombor-Murray who won bronze, Canada’s first-ever Olympic medal in the men’s synchronized 10m platform event.
A 29-year-old fencer from Hamilton, Eleanor Harvey, also wrote one for the books by securing Canada’s first-ever Olympic medal in fencing with a bronze on Day 2 of the games.
“I feel like I’m in a dream,” Harvey, who entered the games as 14th in the world rankings, told Olympic Canada. “I still can’t believe it.”
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Another player who made history despite not being able to win a medal was 19-year-old skateboarder Cordano Russell who set Canada’s best Olympic result in a skateboard event in his Olympic debut by finishing eighth in men’s street skateboard.
So far, Canadian players are bringing home a total of five medals with two gold, one silver and two bronze.
Many more could be on the way as the Paris Olympics will be held until Aug. 11.
