Canadian boxer Tammara Thibeault punches Olympic ticket at Pan Am Games

Canada's Tammara Thibeault is headed back to the Olympic boxing ring.

The Shawinigan, Que., native beat Mexico's Citlalli Ortiz through a unanimous points decision (5-0) in the 75-kilogram semifinals at the Pan Am Games on Thursday in Santiago, Chile. The victory booked Thibeault's spot for both Paris 2024 and in Friday's championship bout.

Thibeault, 26, fell one victory short of Canada's first-ever Olympic women's boxing medal at Tokyo 2020 when she lost in the quarterfinals. At the 2019 Pan Am Games in Lima, she dropped her semifinal bout to settle for bronze, but was later upgraded to silver when her opponent was caught doping.

Now, she'll have a chance to right both wrongs.

"In Lima 2019, I was left with a bitter taste in my mouth, but this time around I am determined and ready for whatever obstacle I have to face in order to be at my best and punch my way to Paris 2024 and bring home a gold medal," Thibeault told Boxing Canada when she was named to the team in Chile.

TAMMARA THIBEAULT