OTTAWA – Wrestling Canada Lutte (WCL) is please to announce that the 2023 Canadian U23 Wrestling Championships and Senior World Team Trials (Non-Olympic Weight Classes) have been awarded to the city of Laval, Quebec. The event, which is being run for the first time, will take place May 27-28 at Place Bell, in partnership with the Fédération de Lutte Olympique du Québec (FLOQ) and Tourisme Laval – Laval SportCité.

“WCL is very excited to be returning to the province of Quebec and the city of Laval for the first running of this event,” said Tamara Medwidsky, WCL Executive Director. “The province has a rich wrestling history and having this event there will only add to it. We should see some great action as athletes compete for the chance to be recognized as Canadian champions and to represent their country at 2023 World Championships.”

“Hosting the 2023 Canadian U23 Wrestling Championships and World Team Trials (Senior Non-Olympic Weights) in Laval represents a tremendous opportunity to highlight the high calibre of our sports infrastructures and for our attractions and hotels, to demonstrate their sense of hospitality and know-how. In all, it will have a positive impact on the economic, tourist and social front. Laval SportCité is proud to have contributed to bringing such a prestigious sports event to Laval,” said Geneviève Roy, President and General Manager of Tourisme Laval.

“On behalf of myself and the entire Olympic wrestling community in Quebec, we would like to thank WCL for choosing us to host the 2023 Canadian U23 Wrestling Championships and World Team Trials (Senior Non-Olympic Weights),” said Jean-François Daviau, president, FLOQ. “ The FLOQ is excited to welcome the best Canadian wrestlers and hopes to offer them an experience that will leave a positive mark on their career and sporting development. Olympic wrestling has a long tradition in Quebec, which continues thanks to WCL.  We are excited to welcome you and wish everyone all the success!”

The Canadian U23 Wrestling Championships will be a first for WCL. It will crown national champions in all 20 (10 freestyle, 10 women’s wrestling) UWW weight classes. The winners will also qualify to represent Canada at the 2023 U23 World Championships, which will be held October 23 – 28, in Tampere, Finland. This is an opportunity for U23 athletes to further hone their skills with another domestic event as traditionally the team was selected based on U23 athlete performance at the Senior Canadian Championships.

“For me it’s very special and exciting to organize a tournament in the city I grew up,” said Martine Dugrenier, FLOQ Director and member of the host organizing committee. “Laval was very supportive during my athletic career, so it is special to organize a wrestling event in collaboration with Laval.”

The Senior World Team Trials (Non-Olympic Weight Classes) represents a second chance for senior athletes who may have missed out on earning a top spot at the 2023 Senior Canadian Championships (formerly Canadian Trials) in one of the 12 Olympic weight classes. The weight classes that will be contested at the event are: FS 61kg, FS 70kg, FS 79kg, FS 92kg, WW 55kg, WW 59kg, WW 65kg and WW 72kg. Winners in those weight classes will join qualifiers from the 2023 Senior Canadian Championships to represent the country at the Senior World Championships, September 16-23, in Belgrade, Serbia.