FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wyatt Sanford Earns Bronze Medal After Semi-Final Bout at Paris Olympic Games

Paris, France, August 4, 2024 – Wyatt Sanford, representing Canada, competed in the semi-final match of the 63.5 kg weight division at the Olympic Games in Paris. Sanford faced Sofiane Oumiha of France in a high-paced and fiercely contested bout. Despite a valiant effort, Sanford lost the match with a score of 1-4.

Sanford began the match by losing the first round, but he made significant adjustments in the second round, winning the favor of two judges. In the third round, he continued to push forward, earning the favor of four judges. However, despite his strong performance in the latter rounds, he ultimately fell short in securing a victory.

Reflecting on his performance, Sanford expressed his satisfaction, stating, “I’m super happy with the performance, it was a back and forth war. Sofiane is a very great boxer. We got the bronze medal regardless and I’m super happy and would not have it any other way.” When asked about the significance of the bronze medal, he shared, “I still have to let that sink in. Right now I get to enjoy myself and be with my family!”

Sanford emphasized the importance of perseverance and dedication, saying, “It does not matter if you come from a big city, or a small village. You set your goals and you work hard every day and it might not be tomorrow, next month, nor next year, but it will eventually pay off.”

Coach Vincent Auclair praised Sanford’s performance, stating, “Wyatt gave us a performance that reflected his tournament. We only needed to convince one more judge in the second round. We were so close, but Wyatt should be proud of what he’s achieved. He is a great athlete and a world-class boxer.”

Coach Samir El-Mais stated that: “I thought we had the 2nd round. It was a great performance. I want to give all the gratitude to Wyatt on his achievements and belief. He has come a long way, being one of the first athletes to centralize at the national training centre. He put us back on the international boxing map. He made Canada proud.”

Despite the loss, Sanford’s remarkable journey and achievement in securing a bronze medal will be celebrated at the Olympic Medal Ceremony August 7th @ 3:20pm ET, marking a significant milestone for Canadian boxing.

For media inquiries, please contact Christopher Lindsay at [email protected]

About Boxing Canada: Boxing Canada is the national sport organization for the sport of Olympic Boxing in Canada. It provides leadership for national programming, teams, and policies in partnership with each province and territory’s sport organization. Thanks to the Government of Canada, Canadian Olympic Committee, Sting Canada, and all our national partners for their support. For more information on Boxing Canada, please visit BoxingCanada.org.

Posted on: August 4, 2024