Canadian boxers Mandy Bujold and Ariane Fortin qualify for Rio Olympics

Canadian boxers Mandy Bujold (left) and Ariane Fortin (right) will compete at Rio Olympics this summer.
(Twitter photo.)

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina—Canadian boxers Mandy Bujold and Ariane Fortin have qualified for this summer’s Rio Olympics.

Both fighters won their semifinal bouts at the American qualifying tournament Thursday to book their tickets to Brazil.

Bujold, from Kitchener, Ont., defeated Grazieli Jesus de Sousa of Brazil 3-0 in the 51-kilogram division.

A two-time Pan Am Games gold medallist, Bujold failed to qualify for the 2012 London Games where women’s boxing made its Olympic debut.

She couldn’t contain her excitement on social media Thursday.

“I’M GOING TO RIO!!!!!!!!” she tweeted. “Words can’t describe the way I’m feeling right now! All I can say is Hard Work really does pay off!!! #TeamBujold.”

At 75 kilograms, Fortin, a native of St. Nicholas, Que., edged Brazil’s Andreia de Oliveira Bandeira 2-1.

Fortin, a two-time world champion, also missed out on the London Olympics after friend and rival Mary Spencer beat her out for a spot on the team.