Emily Bugeja qualifies to be nominated for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in women's kiteboarding

Emily Bugeja qualifies to be nominated for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in women's kiteboarding © Sail Canada

Emily Bugeja from Vancouver, B.C., has qualified to be nominated on Canada's Paris 2024 Olympic Games sailing team in women's kiteboarding.

Emily Bugeja finished first in the Canadian Olympic ranking for Paris following the 2024 Formula Kite World Championships, the second and last competition that served as part of the qualification process for that class.

At this competition which ended on Sunday in Hyères, France, she placed 40th overall, a result that was added to her 25th-place finish at the 2024 Princess Sofia Trophy regatta held in April and which gave her a total of 65 points.

Marie-Ève Mayrand from Calgary, AB, and Quebec City, QC, finished second in the Canadian Olympic selection ranking with 69 points, followed by Nataliya Leshko from Toronto with 76 points, and Martyna Dakowicz from Oakville, who collected 78 points.

"Going to the Olympics has been a dream for a long time," said Emily Bugeja. "I never imagined, when I initially set this goal as a kid fresh out of the Optimist class, that I would end up qualifying in kiteboarding. As much as I'm proud of how much I have grown as a sailor throughout this campaign, I feel like my journey is only beginning. I'm beyond excited to continue to train hard in the lead up to the Games, as well as beyond that."

Emily Bugeja is the sixth athlete to qualify to be nominated on the Canadian Paris 2024 Olympic Games sailing team, after Sarah Douglas from Toronto in ILCA 6, Antonia and Georgia Lewin-LaFrance from Chester, N.S., in 49erFX, as well as Will Jones from Aldershot, ON, and Justin Barnes from Pickering, ON, in 49er.

How Canadian athletes can qualify themselves for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, except in 49erFX

For each class in which Canada qualifies a spot for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, except in 49erFX, athletes and teams can qualify themselves by being the athlete/team with the lowest score combined position from the 2024 World Championships in their respective classes and the 2024 Princess Sofia Regatta, added together, with selection being based on a sailing scoring system (lowest score first).

If there is a tie, the athlete/team in the higher position (based on the sailing scoring system) at the 2024 Princess Sofia Regatta will qualify to be nominated. If an event is cancelled, it will be replaced by the classes' 2024 European Championships.

Prior to being named to Team Canada, all nominations are subject to approval by the Canadian Olympic Committee's Team Selection Committee after it has received nominations from all National Sport Organizations.

Full qualification processes for countries to qualify spots at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the manner in which Canadians can qualify themselves to be nominated for the Paris 2024 Team Canada squad, as well as the full qualification calendar are available at www.sailing.ca/sc_event/2024-olympic-games.