Defending champions Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson secured two wins on Thursday during the Montreal Elite event of the FIVB Beach Pro Tour.
The duo from Toronto triumphed over Brazil’s Carolina Horta and Ana Patricia Ramos with a score of 21-12, 21-12 in their first match, followed by a 21-13, 21-16 victory against the Lithuanian pair of Monika Paulikiene and Aine Raupelyte.
Humana-Paredes and Wilkerson aim to clinch their third consecutive title after their wins in 2023 and 2025.
Olympic silver medallist Melissa Humana-Paredes speaks with Donnovan Bennett about Canada’s journey to LA 2028, competing at home in Montreal, and the expansion of women’s sports.
The tournament was absent in Montreal in 2024, during which Humana-Paredes and Wilkerson reached the gold medal match in beach volleyball at the Paris Olympics, ultimately falling to Ramos and her partner Eduarda (Duda) Lisboa.
On Thursday, the Toronto team managed to turn the tables, outpacing the Brazilians with a total of 26-18 in attack points and 8-1 in serves.
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Canadian Olympian Humana-Paredes is focused on LA28, while cherishing her time at home
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Humana-Paredes and Wilkerson earn coveted gold medal at Ostrava beach volleyball event
Lea Monkhouse from Mississauga, Ont., along with local favourite Marie-Alex Belanger from Saint-Alphonse-Rodriguez, Que., faced a defeat, losing 21-15, 21-15 to Tina Graudina and Anastasija Samoilova from Latvia.
In the men’s category, Samuel Schachter from Richmond Hill, Ont., and Jonathan Pickett from Wiarton, Ont., split their two matches, while Cameron Chadwick from Barrie, Ont., and Steven Abrams from Georgetown, Ont., suffered two losses.
The competition will continue until Sunday at Parc Jean-Drapeau.