With the Rio Olympics just a week away, members of Team Canada’s women’s wrestling team met at Winsport’s Canada Olympic Park for an official send-off and final practice.
Erica Wiebe (75 kg freestyle) and Jasmine Milan (48 kg) were both named to Canada’s Olympic team earlier this month but have been friends for much, much longer.
“We started on the national team together over 10 years ago when we were just kids, so to make the Olympic team together with your best friend is the best feeling in the world,” said Milan.
The pair have been intensely training for the past few weeks and spent Friday doing their last conditioning sessions in Canada before going to Rio to continue their journey.
“The work has been done,” said Wiebe. “It’s been done for the past eight years that I’ve been in Calgary training. It’s the final end of the taper and we’re really excited to get to Rio.”
Milan says that she is feeling great heading into the Games. “I am fitter and stronger that I have ever been. I am more prepared for the opponents that I have in the Olympic Games because I’ve known who they are through the qualification process.”
Speaking of opponents, neither woman will find out who they’ll be facing until just before their first matches.
“We find out the draw the night before the tournament. So you weigh in and you find out the opponent the night before,” Wiebe said. “We have been going through a lot of match analysis with the opponents that we’re going to have and I’m ready to wrestle anybody.”
Both say they are excited to represent Canada and honoured to be a part of the legacy of the Canadian women’s wrestling team.
“We have a really long history of success and a medal in every Olympics since it started in 2004,” Milan said. “The women are the ones to watch for sure.”
“I am so honoured to be a part of the women’s wresting program in Canada because we have that legacy,” added Wiebe. “I just want to be out there and be my best.”
