With chants of "Rio, Rio, Rio" ringing inside the Saville Community Sports Centre, the Canadian women's national basketball team were transported into a different dimension.
"It is kind of like what I dreamed about. When the crowd was chanting Rio at the end of the game you were trying to hold back your tears and keep (yourself) composed because there is still 90 seconds to play. It is an unbelievable experience," Kim Gaucher said.
Perhaps it felt surreal, like a dream they always thought of. But on that night, all of those celebrations were real.
More than two years after Lisa Thomaidis took over the head coaching duties for the country, Canada has finally arrived.
After a pulsating 82-66 victory over rival Cuba in front of a boisterous crowd in Edmonton, Canada capped a big year for women's hoops, winning the 2015 FIBA Americas Women's Championship and sealing an outright berth to the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
The win came a few weeks after the Canadians won for the first time the Pan American Games gold after besting the United States.
"It's different. Going the first time and qualify to way you did perform the way you did. Now we get to be in the conversation of some of the top teams in the world. We should be in that conversation," Thomaidis talked of the success Canada has enjoyed in 2015.
It was only the second time Canada won the gold in the FIBA Americas tournament; the country won its first during the 1995 edition.
The victory did not come easy for the home side, as Cuba led early in the ball game and also tied the count in the third period. But for the past three years, the Canadian team has learned how to deal with adversity and stick together.
"It really has been an incredible summer and to be part of it is phenomenal," Kia Nurse, who finished with 20 points in the final, said. "We had goals to go to tournaments like this and win it. We really played well (in the Pan Am Games) to peak for this tournament. If we can continue to work everyday then we can be successful."
Nurse was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament while Tamara Tatham was also included in the All-Star 5.
"Fantastic. To do it in home soil, in front of our fans, and the atmosphere we were able to compete in tonight is a once in a lifetime opportunity," Thomaidis shared.
Nurse added: "It's an incredible experience. Our team was pumped up for sure. To be able to do it here was amazing and everything really stepped up to play and support us. We couldn't be more thankful for that."
Canada had the goal of winning it all from the moment it fought for the hosting of the event; now showered with cheers and confetti after a humongous victory, the team seeks to head to the next level.
The team's highest finish in the Olympic basketball tournament is fourth during 1984. For Gaucher, the goal next year is not just to be part of the competition, but to prove they are part of the best teams in the world.
"It is a huge advantage for us next summer. Heading to London (in 2012) we are training to peak for the Olympic qualifying tournament," she said.
"Now we are training to peak for Rio. That is a huge difference. (The) no. 1 goal is to get to the podium in Rio and not (just) to get to Rio."
Teamwork has always been the difference-maker for the squad. In the tournament, Canada assisted 23.7 of its 33.3 field goal makes per game. Everyone received the playing time and 8 players averaged 7 points or more per outing.
"The next 11 and a half months leading to Rio is something we were not able to have the last time around. I think we certainly fired some shots there that Canada is coming. We have a chance to tailor our training and peak our performance," Thomaidis said.
"This is the best team I have ever been part of, hands down," she added.
"It is amazing to be part of it."
Truly, it was a remarkable year for the women's basketball team of Canada, which rose to no. 9 in the FIBA rankings. And it is only the beginning as Thomaidis wants to push the squad to do even better -- higher that they will be among the top teams in the world.
"There are still some great days ahead. We haven't peaked. These players, the amount that everyone improved is remarkable. They do it again next year who knows what's possible."
"It is kind of like what I dreamed about. When the crowd was chanting Rio at the end of the game you were trying to hold back your tears and keep (yourself) composed because there is still 90 seconds to play. It is an unbelievable experience," Kim Gaucher said.
@CanBball beat Cuba in the #FIBAAmericasWomen2015 Final to qualify for @Rio2016_en! pic.twitter.com/aFYxB9Vy88
— FIBA (@FIBA) August 17, 2015
Perhaps it felt surreal, like a dream they always thought of. But on that night, all of those celebrations were real.
More than two years after Lisa Thomaidis took over the head coaching duties for the country, Canada has finally arrived.
After a pulsating 82-66 victory over rival Cuba in front of a boisterous crowd in Edmonton, Canada capped a big year for women's hoops, winning the 2015 FIBA Americas Women's Championship and sealing an outright berth to the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
The win came a few weeks after the Canadians won for the first time the Pan American Games gold after besting the United States.
"It's different. Going the first time and qualify to way you did perform the way you did. Now we get to be in the conversation of some of the top teams in the world. We should be in that conversation," Thomaidis talked of the success Canada has enjoyed in 2015.
It was only the second time Canada won the gold in the FIBA Americas tournament; the country won its first during the 1995 edition.
Olympic dreams are now a reality. Canada steps onto the #FIBAAmericasWomen2015 podium! #WeAreTeamCanada pic.twitter.com/X4pOECbWOa
— Canada Basketball (@CanBball) August 17, 2015
The victory did not come easy for the home side, as Cuba led early in the ball game and also tied the count in the third period. But for the past three years, the Canadian team has learned how to deal with adversity and stick together.
"Now we get to be in the conversation of some of the top teams in the world. We should be in that conversation." - Thomaidis
Nurse was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament while Tamara Tatham was also included in the All-Star 5.
so this happened AGAIN... we're going to Rio!!!!!!!!!!! Ahhhhhhhhhh #WeAreTeamCanada pic.twitter.com/XkEDP87JYh
— Kia Nurse (@KayNurse11) August 17, 2015
"Fantastic. To do it in home soil, in front of our fans, and the atmosphere we were able to compete in tonight is a once in a lifetime opportunity," Thomaidis shared.
Nurse added: "It's an incredible experience. Our team was pumped up for sure. To be able to do it here was amazing and everything really stepped up to play and support us. We couldn't be more thankful for that."
Canada had the goal of winning it all from the moment it fought for the hosting of the event; now showered with cheers and confetti after a humongous victory, the team seeks to head to the next level.
The team's highest finish in the Olympic basketball tournament is fourth during 1984. For Gaucher, the goal next year is not just to be part of the competition, but to prove they are part of the best teams in the world.
"It is a huge advantage for us next summer. Heading to London (in 2012) we are training to peak for the Olympic qualifying tournament," she said.
"Now we are training to peak for Rio. That is a huge difference. (The) no. 1 goal is to get to the podium in Rio and not (just) to get to Rio."
Teamwork has always been the difference-maker for the squad. In the tournament, Canada assisted 23.7 of its 33.3 field goal makes per game. Everyone received the playing time and 8 players averaged 7 points or more per outing.
"The next 11 and a half months leading to Rio is something we were not able to have the last time around. I think we certainly fired some shots there that Canada is coming. We have a chance to tailor our training and peak our performance," Thomaidis said.
"This is the best team I have ever been part of, hands down," she added.
"It is amazing to be part of it."
Truly, it was a remarkable year for the women's basketball team of Canada, which rose to no. 9 in the FIBA rankings. And it is only the beginning as Thomaidis wants to push the squad to do even better -- higher that they will be among the top teams in the world.
"There are still some great days ahead. We haven't peaked. These players, the amount that everyone improved is remarkable. They do it again next year who knows what's possible."
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