(Ottawa, ON) – Olympian and three-time World Champion Martine Dugrenier has been announced as a 2016 inductee to United World Wrestling’s (UWW) Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will officially take place August 12, 2016, in Rio de Janeiro, prior to the start of wrestling competition at the 2016 Olympic Games.

“Being inducted into United World Wrestling’s Hall of Fame is the highest recognition a wrestler can receive,” said Martine Dugrenier. “If my wrestling career was a novel, this award would have to be the title of a gold covered book.”

Martine also took the opportunity to thank her many supporters.

“It is truly an honour to be recognized among a group of the world’s best and accomplished wrestlers. I would like to share this honour with my coaches Victor Zilberman and Rob Moore, my teammates and training partners at the YMHA-Reinitz Wrestling Centre, my family, friends, sponsors, Wrestling Canada Lutte, and all who have supported me throughout my wrestling career. I would also like to thank the UWW Hall of Fame Committee for recognizing my accomplishments. When you step out on the wrestling mat you are by yourself, but without everyone’s support, none of this would have been possible.”

Wrestling Canada Lutte (WCL) celebrated the news that another worthy Canadian woman would be joining the great company currently in the Hall.

“Martine is a worthy Champion who has gone on to be a great leader within the sport,” said Wrestling Canada Lutte President Don Ryan. “I have no doubt that more championships were in her future had an arm injury not influenced her retirement. Her retirement from competition was the sport’s gain as she has gone on to teach others by example.”

Martine’s induction is another demonstration of the impact of the Canadian women’s wrestling program internationally, as she will be the third Canadian female wrestler to join 13 other women in UWW’s Hall of Fame and also becomes Canada’s 4^th athlete inductee, joining fellow Canadian UWW Hall of Famers Christine Nordhagen (inducted 2006), Daniel Igali (inducted 2008) and Carol Huynh (inducted 2013).

“There is no doubt that Martine is a worthy recipient of this honour,” said Wrestling Canada Lutte Executive Director Tamara Medwidsky. “She was always known as a hard worker who was tactical and intelligent on the mat. This is a great announcement for the strength of our program here in Canada and a great accomplishment for one of the sport’s great ambassadors.”

Now coaching a new generation of wrestlers in Quebec, among Martine’s many accomplishments, highlights of her wrestling career include:

• Olympian (2008, 2012)
• 3-time World Champion (2008, 2009, 2010)
• 3-time World Silver Medallist (2005, 2006, 2007)
• 3-time Pan Am Championship Gold Medallist (2007, 2008, 2009)
• World University Champion (2004).

Full details on the UWW’s Hall of Fame including current members is available on the UWW website: https://unitedworldwrestling.org/article/united-world-wrestling-to-induct-15-into-2016-hall-of-fame-class