Canadian women look to, rule Gold Coast beach, earn Commonwealth Games gold
GOLD COAST, Australia — Beach volleyball and Australia’s Gold Coast seem like a match made in heaven. And Canadian Sarah Pavan can’t wait to make some history there.
Pavan, from Kitchener, Ont., and Toronto’s Melissa Humana-Paredes are looking to win gold in the Commonwealth Games debut of the sport. Ranked No. 1 by the FIVB, they are the women to beat, although it is early in the beach volleyball season.
“We’re really excited,” said Pavan. “I know Melissa and I feel so honoured to be the first Canadian beach volleyball team to get to go. I think it’s crazy that it hasn’t been in the Commonwealth (Games) until now, especially with it being such a popular Olympic sport.”
“Any time you get to represent your country in a multi-sports games, it’s amazing,” she added. “We’ve been looking forward to this for quite a while.”