distance Paris 2024 Olympic GamesHumboldt's Peggy Crozon She will compete.
Crozon scored a qualifying goal in Canada’s last chance to advance to the Paris Olympics, where she will represent her province and country in women’s 3×3 basketball.
“It was like a fairy tale and moment for us,” Crozon said. “That moment was so surreal for all of us. This is something we’ve been working towards for a long time.”
Fans, elected leaders and the University of Saskatchewan basketball community gave Crozon a send-off Monday morning to celebrate her first career Olympic appearance.
Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark spoke on behalf of the city, saying Crozon is a shining beacon for young athletes in Saskatchewan.
“It's a very, very inspiring story,” Clark said. “It's an inspiration to so many young girls and all children in our province.”
While Crozon will be chasing an Olympic medal with Team Canada, the Paris Games mark the beginning of a memorable summer for the sharpshooter as she will return to Saskatoon in August for the FIBA Women’s 3×3 Series, which will make a stop in the city.
As a single parent, Crozon juggles life with the national team while also being deeply involved in the Living Skies Aboriginal Basketball League in Saskatoon, helping to mentor the province’s next generation of young basketball players.
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Living Skies co-founder Mike Tanton and members of the Saskatoon Supernovas attended the event on Monday to show support for the woman who has contributed so much to the program.
“They see her as one of their own, and that’s so important,” Tandon said. “We want these kids to be exposed to opportunities out there. What better way to showcase those opportunities than to have the people who are doing it right there?”
Crozon began her journey to Paris five years ago, joining twin sisters Michelle and Katherine Plouffe and Kascie Bosch as part of a four-person roster vying for gold.
As the Olympics approached, Crozon reflected on his Saskatchewan roots, and celebrating the achievements of young athletes with Living Skies became even more important.
“I think it’s really important that a kid from Saskatchewan, a kid from a small rural town in Saskatchewan, a woman, a single mother achieve something in sports with the support and encouragement of her community,” Crozon said.
Crozon’s parents and five-year-old daughter Poppy surrounded her for a moving celebration of Utah alumni.
Crozon said the journey to Paris was long, but she was not alone.
“I probably can’t say thank you enough,” Crozon said. “So to be able to have a moment like this to thank them for everything they’ve done for me growing up … to have Poppy here and tell her that she’s the reason I play basketball and to have her here to share that with me, it’s really special.”
The 2024 Olympic group stage begins on July 30, with Crozon and the rest of Team Canada set to compete.
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