Canadian boxer Tammara Thibeault has one objective in Paris - winning Olympic gold

Canadian boxer Tammara Thibeault won't hide it.

At the Paris Olympics, she has only one goal — capturing gold in the 75-kilogram weight class.

It's not arrogance, or even overconfidence. The 27-year-old pugilist from Shawinigan, Que., has a stellar resume worthy of aiming for the top of the podium in the French capital.

Thibeault started the sport at nine years old, following her father, former CFL wide receiver Patrick Thibeault, and brother to boxing classes.

Now the current world champion — a title won in 2022 before several nations boycotted the 2023 world championships to protest against the International Boxing Association — Thibeault is also a two-time Pan American Boxing gold medallist and won the last Pan American and Commonwealth Games.

She hasn't lost a fight since her defeat in the quarterfinals of the Tokyo Olympics, where she finished fifth, bringing her streak to 25.

To say she's the favourite in Paris is an understatement, but Thibeault tries to put that aside.

"I try not to think about it. It's normal, I'm the reigning world champion," she said. "But it's a new tournament. Everyone starts on the same footing and, above all, I don't underestimate any of my opponents. I also don't rely on being the favourite."

Boxing is set for July 27 to Aug. 10, and Thibeault will step into the on the second day.

The preliminary fights take place at the Paris Nord Arena, but the finals will be held at Roland Garros, the site of the French Open tennis tournament.

The idea of a Canadian boxer emerging as an Olympic medal contender seemed unlikely after Tokyo. Boxing Canada found itself in a scandal after dozens of boxers signed an open letter to Sport Canada in May 2022 about the organization's "toxic culture of fear and