LIMA, Peru – Jade Parsons only had days to prepare for the Lima 2019 Pan American Games, but that didn’t stop her from reaching the podium.

Parsons, of Orillia, Ont., was selected to the Canadian team as a replacement for Brock Wrestling Club teammate Diana Weicker, who won the Canadian Championships to be selected at 53 kg. Parsons was informed just five days before she departed for Lima.

“It was a rush from the moment I was told to the moment I got here,” said Parsons. “There really was no leadup, but as an athlete you have to be ready all the time. It’s really unfortunate that Diana couldn’t come, but I made the best of a bad situation.”

The 28-year-old defeated Luisa Valverde of Ecuador to secure bronze at 53 kg. Parsons won the match 6-3, after leading for the duration of the bout.

Jade Parsons grapples to bronze.🥉@parsons_xo becomes the first wrestler to climb the #Lima2019 podium, finishing third in the women’s 53kg event. pic.twitter.com/gxNUIBsc7P

— Team Canada (@TeamCanada) August 9, 2019

Parsons started the day by beating Colombia’s Dannia Figueroa 5-0 to advance to the semifinal, before falling to eventual gold medallist Sarah Hildebrandt of USA.

Hannah Taylor, also of Brock, competed at 57 kg. Taylor of Cornwall, P.E.I., fell to Brazil’s Giullia Rodrigues 5-6.

Lima 2019 action resumes tomorrow with Olivia Di Bacco (68 kg), Justina Di Stasio (76 kg), and Darthe Capellan (57 kg) competing for Canada. Complete results are available here.