FIBA

When the Canadian women’s national 3×3 basketball team is on the court, Paige Crozon’s five-year-old daughter Poppy can often be heard cheering for her mother from the stands, shouting “Lightning fast, mom!” or “Shoot it!” of the margin.

And when she’s not able to physically join her mother at basketball tournaments around the world, Poppy supports her behind a screen.

“I was so lucky to have her encourage me,” Crozon says. “She humbly gave herself the title of ‘Coach’.”

Crozon gave birth to her daughter in the fall of 2018.

Just six months later, the International Basketball Federation brought 3×3 women’s basketball to the world stage and Crozon found herself in the thick of it, traveling to a different destination around the world every two weeks.

Crozon says that while she is grateful for the structure and flexibility that 3×3 basketball provides to allow her to continue to compete as an athlete and a parent, the balance of being a team athlete national and a mother has its challenges.

“I’m a single mother working two full-time jobs and training for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. With the travel involved in my sport, it can be difficult to take time off and take so much time off work.

In their first season, the women’s 3×3 team was self-funded, with each player contributing over $20,000 from their own pocket in an effort to earn Canada a spot at the Tokyo Olympics. They just missed the cut.

To pay the bills and stay connected to basketball, Crozon took on roles as assistant coach of the University of Lethbridge women’s basketball team and general manager of the Living Skies Indigenous basketball league, in addition to coach herself as a national team athlete.

The Canadian women’s national 3×3 team has come a long way since then. In 2022, the team won the Women’s Series title and the 2023 season saw them win in six stages of the FIBA ​​3×3 Women’s Series.

Poppy was able to join the team on the road for three tournaments last season.

Crozon nevertheless says that with financial support, she could find a better balance between training, full-time work and her daughter’s education.

This year, Crozon is one of ten Team Canada athletes to receive the Murphy Family Award from the Canadian Olympic Foundation.

The Murphy Family Award, created by Glenn and Stacey Murphy, gives promising Team Canada athletes the peace of mind to focus more on their training and enjoy respite from outside financial demands.

Recipients are well established in their sport, enjoy high international rankings and have a strong chance of representing Team Canada at the next Olympic Games.

“Support from the Murphy Family Award will give me more time: to train with my daughter and to give back to my community by providing opportunities to young people who typically face many barriers in sport,” says Crozon.

“I hope to show other young girls that the strength within us is greater than any obstacles that may be placed in front of us. These past few years have been difficult in many ways, but I am most proud to show my daughter the courage and resilience it takes to pursue her dreams.

Canadian boxer and Olympian Tammara Thibeault and sprint canoeist Katie Vincent join Crozon on the list of 2023 recipients of the third edition of the Murphy Family Award. All three athletes share the motivation to represent Canada as a woman in sport and to pave the way for young girls.

Thibeault, whose dream of becoming a boxing champion became possible when women’s boxing was first added to the Olympic program in 2012, says donor funding opens doors not only for her, but also for women in the world. boxing in general.

“Donor support is essential because all of these elements – training, travel, competition – are necessary to get where I want to go and take women’s boxing with me,” she says.

“This additional funding will allow me to continue to break barriers and elevate women’s boxing in Canada, not only for myself but also for the young athletes who come after me. »

“I want to continue to push the boundaries of Canadian women in sport and make our nation proud. I have always dreamed of becoming an Olympic champion, and even if bronze feels good, I want to aim for gold,” says Vincent.

“With the support of the Murphy Family Award, I believe I can get closer to this dream. »

The Canadian Olympic Foundation is proud to announce the 2023 recipients of the Murphy Family Award:

Catherine Beauchemin PinardOLY – Judo (Montreal, QC)

Charlie Cavanagh — Boxing (Saint John, NB)

Maud CharronOLY – Weightlifting (Rimouski, QC)

Paige Crozon — Basketball 3×3 (Humboldt, Saskatchewan)

Sarah DouglasOLY – Sailing (Burlington, ON)

Kirsten Edwards — Rowing (Port Moody, British Columbia)

Ana Godinez González — Wrestling (Burnaby, British Columbia)

Amy Legault — Triathlon (L’Île Perrot, QC)

Catherine PlouffeOLY – Basketball 3×3 (Edmonton, AB)

Tammar ThibeaultOLY – Boxing (Shawinigan, QC)

KatieVincentOLY – Canoe sprint (Mississauga, ON)