Canadian wrestlers Erica Wiebe, Danielle Lappage secure Tokyo Olympic berths
Erica Wiebe will look to defend her wrestling title at the Tokyo Olympics after qualifying with a 6-0 semifinal win Saturday afternoon at the Pan-American event in Ottawa.
Wiebe held a slim 2-0 lead over Ecuador’s Genesis Rosangela Reasco Valdez for much of the match before scoring two with a leg lace on the way to victory at the Shaw Centre.
Four years ago in Rio, the 30-year-old Wiebe became the third Canadian female wrestler to reach the podium at the Summer Games, capturing gold in the 76-kilogram division at her Olympic debut.
Wiebe hails from Stittsville, Ont., located about 30 kilometres west of downtown Ottawa, and had been looking forward to competing in front of a home crowd for the first time, but the event was held in an empty venue due to the concerns around the COVID-19 pandemic.
WATCH | Erica Wiebe books ticket for Tokyo Summer Games:
Joining Wiebe in Japan will be Danielle Lappage of Olds, Alta., who advanced to her second Olympics. The Calgary Dinos Wrestling Club member scored a 10-0 semifinal win over Leonela Aleyda Ayovi Parraga of Ecuador in a 68kg match.
WATCH | Danielle Lappage blanks opponent 10-0:
The top two finishers in each weight category gain an Olympic spot.
Four other Canadian women lost in the semifinals:
- 50kg division — Jessie MacDonald of Windsor, Ont., was shut out 11-0 by Sarah Hildebrandt of the United States
- 53kg — Samantha Stewart of London, Ont., was doubled 8-4 by American Jacarra Winchester
- 57kg — Linda Morais of Tecumseh, Ont., was pinned by Alma Jane Valencia Escoto of Mexico
- 62kg — Hamilton’s Michelle Fazzari lost 12-3 to Kayla Miracle of the U.S.
