Olympic Champion Erica Wiebe: Sponsorship opportunities, increasing prize money will make wrestling great again

By   - 08/04/2020

When Erica Wiebe climbed at the top of the podium at the 2016 Rio Olympics, she was creating history in two different ways. She was the third Canadian champion ever in wrestling at the Olympics and the second woman to win gold after Carol Huynh – 2008 Beijing Games. Back then she was 26. But even at 30, she still has the same hunger to prove her mettle at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

Wiebe is now the flag-bearer of wrestling in her country and is the first-ever sports ambassador from Alberta. She advocates and motivates the next-gen through her posts on social media and training sessions. Even during quarantine in her home in Calgary, Alberta due to Coronavirus, she makes sure to talk to young and upcoming wrestlers through skype.

Wiebe confirmed the Tokyo berth for her country after winning gold at the Pan-American Olympic Qualifiers held in Ottawa in March. In a conversation with WrestlingTV, the 2016 Rio games champion talks about how wrestling can become a global sport and other things.

Here is an excerpt from the Interview:

WrestlingTV: What was your first reaction, when Canada announced that it will not send its athletes to the Olympics even before the official announcement for the postponement of the Games was made?

Wiebe: When I heard that the Canadian Olympic Committee had decided to not send athletes to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games to protect athlete safety I was immediately extremely sad knowing that I would not be wrestling at the Olympic Games in 2020 but I knew that it was the right thing to do and I was extremely proud to represent Canada at that moment.

We were leaders in the global sports world and I believe postponing the Olympic Games is the right choice to protect our communities.

WrestlingTV: Did you talk to anyone on the subject?

Erica: I told my family first.

WrestlingTV: How difficult is it for you to adapt to the new situation at the time when you were supposed to be training in full swing under normal circumstances?

Erica: In Canada, all of the training facilities were closed and so I am unable to do my regular training. It feels strange but I also know that it is was it needed and I feel so grateful for the healthcare workers and other frontline workers in Canada who are working hard and putting themselves at risk.

WrestlingTV: With one year to go, how difficult is it to maintain your body weight? What are the measures you are taking to keep it in check?

Erica: I never worry about my body weight. When the weight class changed from 72kg to 75kg to now 76kg, my body has adapted perfectly and I stay healthy and at my weight all year long.

WrestilngTV: With no sparring partners, loss of muscle memory is another concern, how are you dealing with these problems?

Erica: I’ve been wrestling my whole life. I will always know the techniques and tactics that make me dangerous. The timing and the fitness will come back with time.

WrestlingTV: You are 30 now soon to be 31. By the time the Games come you will be 32. How difficult is it mentally to realise that you will have to push a lot more than many of your challengers who are younger to you?

Erica: I’m older and wiser. I carry with me the confidence that I’ve done it before and I am more hungry than ever to become a better, stronger wrestler. I did not have a strong performance at the 2019 World Championships and I’m looking forward to showcasing what I can do on the world’s biggest stage. Age is not a factor for me. I am more healthy and stronger than I have ever been to.

WrestlingTV: What are the other problems you think an athlete would face due to postponement?

Erica: I think it would be hard for some athletes to wait and manage the pressure for a whole other year.

WrestlingTV: What are your thoughts on Adeline Gray? You both have met on multiple occasions and she has a better record against you. So, have you been preparing for her individually?

Erica: I’ve beaten her, she’s beaten me. I love to compete against the best in the world so I would be excited to wrestle her and any other challenger.

WrestlingTV: Besides her 4 most difficult opponents in 76kg and why?

Erica: There are many high-quality women at 76kg. Our weight class is the deepest right now for women’s wrestling and I respect all of them!

WrestlingTV: Can you take me through your routine on a given day?

Erica: Eat. Train. Sleep. Repeat (Just kidding).

I will be starting my MBA at Queens and Cornell in June so I will be balancing my training with business studies and I am very excited about that! Right now I am focusing on maintaining my aerobic fitness and general strength. It’s a long time between now and the Olympic Games and I’m taking my rest right now and ensuring when it comes time for the big volume of training my body is tuned up and ready to fire on all cylinders.

WrestlingTV: How are you coping up with the Coronavirus situation? What all things are you catching up on with so much of spare time?

Erica: I have been taking on projects and having skype calls with young and up and coming wrestlers. It’s been nice to connect with athletes from all across Canada.

WrestlingTV: You competed at the Indian Pro Wrestling, How was the experience and what is that one thing that you miss about India the most? Did you take anything back as a memoir?

Erica: I loved competing in the PWL. I hope to come back and play once again. I miss the atmosphere, the fans, the food, and the excitement of the competition every night. I have many favourite memories from the league and I love seeing my Mumbai Maharathi teammates when I compete internationally (Rahul Aware, Sarita, Carolina Castillo, Pavlo Olynyk, and Jabrayil.

WrestlingTV: Did you watch any Bollywood movies especially Dangal (a wrestling movie)?

Erica: I watched Dangal in the movie theatres when I was in India. It is such a great movie.

WrestlingTV: Any Indian wrestler you are in touch now or have talked to amid the Coronavirus crisis?

Erica: I haven’t talked with any Indian wrestlers but I am very supportive of the great messages Sakshi Malik has been sharing.

WrestlingTV: You keep posting up videos of you taking up new challenges the last one being the ‘upside-down’ challenge. Any new task that you have been nominated for?

Erica: I’m very open to any more nominations!

WrestlingTV: As you will be pursuing an MBA, are there any thoughts of calling it a day to the glorious career after Tokyo?

Erica: I plan to take the 18month program while I am training for Tokyo and then continue training for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Paris is a beautiful city and I still love to compete. But who knows what the future holds for me

WrestlingTV: Your favourite wrestler, who are ready to pay to watch him or her wrestle?

I love watching Yuliya Tkach – 2014 World Champion – wrestle. She’s one of my favourites.

WrestlingTV: Wrestling is still at a semi-professional level, what do you think should be done to make it commercially a viable sport for the athletes?

Erica: I think opening up the apparel sponsorship opportunities for wrestlers, increasing prize money for competitions and having an international dual meet like the PWL would make it a very exciting sport that would drive viewership and sponsorship revenue.

WrestlingTV: What will be your plan for the next one year for the ‘Road to Tokyo’?

Erica: It’ll be interesting to see how the world reacts to the virus and how long it takes to recover and resume ‘normal’. I have a great training environment here in Calgary, Alberta, Canada where I live and then we will see what competitions are set up in the new year. Whatever happens, I’ll be ready.

WrestlingTV: Your favourite pastime?

Erica: Hiking in the mountains.

WrestlingTV: Your favourite Hollywood Star and Movie?

Erica: Gladiator is my favourite movie. My favourite Actor is Dwayne Johnson.

WrestlingTV: You had trained with WWE athletes in 2017. Is there any chance in the future we may see Erica Wiebe fighting for the Women’s title in WWE?

Erica: Anything is possible.

Leave a Comment

Follow us
Slot Thailand Gacor
Anti Rungkad
Akun Gacor
https://depo-slot.kecsukorejo.kendalkab.go.id/
Slot Menang
https://slot-jp.kecsukorejo.kendalkab.go.id/
Anti Rungkad
Slot Zeus X500
Mpo Slot
Slot 777 Thailand
Akun Gacor
https://slot-thailand.kecsukorejo.kendalkab.go.id/
https://slot-kamboja.kecsukorejo.kendalkab.go.id/
https://akun-slot.kecsukorejo.kendalkab.go.id/
https://akun-pro.kecsukorejo.kendalkab.go.id/
server amerika server eropa server filipina server hongkong server jepang server kamboja server malaysia server myanmar server singapore server thailand server vietnam server amerika server eropa server filipina server hongkong server jepang server kamboja server malaysia server myanmar server singapore server thailand server vietnam slot asia slot belanda slot china slot dubai slot internasional slot korea slot macau slot rusia slot sensasional slot taiwan slot asia slot belanda slot china slot dubai slot internasional slot korea slot macau slot rusia slot sensasional slot taiwan slot asia slot belanda slot china slot dubai slot internasional slot korea slot macau slot rusia slot sensasional slot taiwan slot asia slot belanda slot china slot dubai slot internasional slot korea slot macau slot rusia slot sensasional slot taiwan server amerika server eropa server filipina server hongkong server jepang server kamboja server malaysia server myanmar server singapore server vietnam server amerika server eropa server filipina server hongkong server jepang server kamboja server malaysia server myanmar server singapore server vietnam server amerika server eropa server filipina server hongkong server jepang server kamboja server malaysia server myanmar server singapore server vietnam slot asia slot belanda slot china slot dubai slot internasional slot korea slot macau slot rusia slot sensasional slot taiwan slot asia slot belanda slot china slot dubai slot internasional slot korea slot macau slot rusia slot sensasional slot taiwan slot asia slot belanda slot china slot dubai slot internasional slot korea slot macau slot rusia slot sensasional slot taiwan