Lindsay’s Emma Wright leads Canada’s Women’s Water Polo team for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris

DARRYL KNIGHT The Standard

KAWARTHA LAKES: Lindsay’s Emma Wright has been named captain of Canada’s women’s water polo team, for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

The youngest of four siblings, her journey began as a student at Alexandra Public School, where she was introduced to water polo through her older siblings, who played competitively in Toronto.

"Being too young to stay home alone, Emma was dragged along to the pool, on a nightly basis, before being thrown in 'kicking and screaming,'" recalled her mother, Wendy Wright. Despite her initial reluctance, Emma quickly proved her talent, often playing with older teammates and developing her skills.

Emma's dedication to the sport grew over the years. Every night after school, the Wright family commuted from Lindsay to Toronto for practice, with sessions lasting two to four hours. Weekends were spent with teammates in Toronto for additional training. This rigorous schedule lasted for over seven years, with both Emma and Wendy acknowledging the sacrifices made. “Eating, sleeping, and doing homework in between practices, a lot of things given up and a lot of things gained,” said Wendy.

Emma’s hard work paid off when she was selected for Canada’s junior team for the world championships in Italy. Then she made the senior team in 2013, at just 16 years old. She continued her studies on a full scholarship, at the University of California, Berkeley, while always keeping her Olympic dream alive. The postponement of the 2020 Olympics, due to COVID-19, was a setback, but training with her sister Claire, who was also on the national team, helped her stay motivated.

In Tokyo 2021, the Wright sisters were part of the Canadian team which ended a 16-year Olympic absence, finishing in 7th place. “It just made the experience so much better. It was special to have Claire there because no one could have family travel with them,” Emma recalled.

Now, as the captain, Emma aims for a higher finish in Paris. Training for the PanAm Games and World Championships, where they secured their Olympic spot, has been intense, with Emma dedicating up to eight hours a day to her regimen.

Emma attributes much of her success to her mother’s unwavering support. “For sure, I wouldn’t be where I am today without my mom. I’m very thankful, she saw we loved it and she dedicated her time to it.”

As Emma leads the team to Paris, she continues to inspire with her resilience and determination.