Olympics

Canadian women's water polo team loses heartbreaker at Rio qualifier

An 8-7 loss to Italy on Saturday cost the Canadian women's polo team their last shot at qualifying for this summer's Rio Olympics.

8-7 loss to Italy ends 2016 Olympic hopes

Canada's women's water polo team fails to qualify for Rio 2016

9 years ago
Duration 4:59
Canada's women's water polo team will not be competing in the 2016 Rio Olympics after losing 8-7 to Italy on Saturday in the quarter-finals of an Olympic qualifier in the Netherlands.

The Canadian women's water polo team will not be competing at the Rio Olympics this summer.

The team's last chance to qualify for the Olympics ended with an 8-7 loss to Italy in the quarter-finals at the Olympic qualifying tournament in Gouda, Netherlands on Saturday.

Only the top four finalists at the event secure a spot at the Rio Olympics, meaning Canada needed to beat the Italians to reach the semifinals and book their spot in Rio.

Canadian coach David Paradelo was shown a red card by the referee in what was a contentious final minute of play.

Italy joins the U.S., Spain, and Russia as qualifiers from this tournament.

Australia, China and Hungary had already secured their place in Rio during previous qualifying opportunities,while Brazil received the host nation spot.