Melissa Humana-Paredes doesn’t often have the opportunity to compete in beach volleyball on home turf. However, when she does, Montréal proves to be a favorable location for her success. This week, from August 19-23, Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson will participate in the Montréal Elite16 event at Parc Jean-Drapeau, aiming to build on their victory from last year.
In the 2025 event, the Canadian duo secured their first title together by defeating Germany’s Svenja Müller and Cinja Tillmann in straight sets, with scores of 21-15, 22-20. Humana-Paredes expressed her appreciation for the rare opportunity to compete in front of a home crowd, highlighting the enthusiastic support of Montréal sports fans.
The pair’s focus is not only on their current success but also on future endeavors, with their sights set on the upcoming LA 2028 Olympics. Despite the anticipation for the upcoming games, Humana-Paredes emphasized the importance of staying grounded and taking the Olympic journey one step at a time.
As they prepare for their next Olympic campaign, Humana-Paredes and Wilkerson have returned to their roots, reuniting with their former coaching staff in Los Angeles to create a familiar and supportive environment. This strategic approach has yielded positive results, including recent gold medal victories at the Elite16 event in Ostrava.
Looking ahead, Humana-Paredes envisions the LA Olympics as a significant milestone in her career, considering Los Angeles a second home due to her extensive training there. She anticipates that beach volleyball will shine in Long Beach during the upcoming games, emphasizing the sport’s strong connection to Southern California.
Despite the exciting prospects on the horizon, Humana-Paredes values the opportunity to compete in Montréal and appreciates the support of Canadian fans as she navigates her journey towards the LA 2028 Olympics.
