Toronto – Two-time Olympic medalist Carol Huynh was inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2017 on Thursday.

Huynh made history by becoming the first Canadian Olympic gold medalist in women’s wrestling at the 2008 Games in Beijing. Four years later she captured a bronze medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Huynh, originally from Hazelton, B.C., is a four-time world wrestling championship medalist (silver in 2001, bronze in 2000, 2005, and 2010), a 2010 Commonwealth Games champion, a two-time Pan American Games champion (2007 and 2011), and an eleven-time national champion (2000-02, 2004-2008, and 2010-12).

Huynh retired from competitive wrestling after the 2012 Olympic Games, and has since given back to her sport and country.

In 2013, she was chosen to advocate on behalf of wrestlers at the 125th International Olympic Committee Session in Buenos Aires to have wrestling readmitted to the Olympic program.

In 2015, she was appointed as a United World Wrestling Super 8 Ambassador for the global campaign focusing on the development of women in wrestling and she was the Chair of the first United World Wrestling Athletes Commission.

Huynh currently coaches the Wrestling NextGen Program – Calgary and is an assistant coach at the Dinos Wrestling Club at the University of Calgary. Huynh has exhibited passion, class and extraordinary commitment to sport and her community throughout her career as an athlete, coach and sports advocate.

“To be counted amongst the many great athletes and sportspeople that have been inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame before me and with me is quite overwhelming,” said Huynh. “They are truly an inspiration to so many Canadians of all walks of life. I am so honoured to be a part of something that’s more than just an award or recognition. I think that Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame illustrates  to all, that they too can achieve, succeed, overcome, and make a difference.”

“We’re thrilled that we have the opportunity to celebrate Carol’s amazing achievements,” said Tamara Medwidsky, Wrestling Canada Lutte’s Executive Director. “Carol continues to give back to the sport and share her expertise with the next generation of Canadian wrestlers.”

Other class of 2017 inductees include Mike Weir, Simon Whitfield, Lanny McDonald, Cindy Klassen, Gaylord Powless, Robert W. Jackson, Dr. Charles Tator and the Edmonton Grads.

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