OTTAWA —  The countdown to Paris 2024 is on and Wrestling Canada Lutte (WCL) is proud to have recently named the six members of the Olympic team. Hannah Taylor, Ana Godinez Gonzalez, Linda Morais, Justina Di Stasio, Alex Moore and Amar Dhesi will all be competing at the Games, but before the wrestling competition begins on August 5, there is much that goes into getting the athletes there.

From training expenses, travel, pre-tournament events, training camps, support staff costs, much is needed to ensure our team is at their peak when the competition begins. That is why WCL is asking for your support to help the team as a whole, or for individual athletes. Opportunities are plenty to either donate to the team or individuals or to sponsor the team.

More about the team

Hannah Taylor, 25, Summerside, PEI, Brock Wrestling Club, 57kg

Hannah Taylor is a fantastic example of how wrestling thrives in small communities across Canada. She got her start in the city of Summerside, PEI, which has a population of just over 16,000 people, but has risen to multiple international accomplishments. While she now trains out of Brock Wrestling Club, she has always been proud of her roots and takes the opportunity to return and share her expertise with the local wrestling community to give back to the sport and community that supported her. Hannah is a Pan-American (Pan-Am) Games silver medalist, Commonwealth Games bronze medalist, U23 World bronze medalist, junior Pan-Am championships gold medalist and two-time U23 World bronze medalist. She will have a chance to add to those accomplishments when she competes in Paris this summer.

Ana Godinez Gonzalez, 24, Coquitlam, BC, Burnaby Mountain Wrestling Club, 62kg

Ana Godinez Gonzalez was originally born in Mexico, but at the age of eight, Ana and her family immigrated to Canada after the family was facing threats. Ana and her sisters were told they were going to Disneyland and to pack everything they needed. Little did she know, but Ana was about to start a new life in Canada. With wrestling, Ana has represented her adoptive country well, capturing a U23 World Championship, a Commonwealth Games silver medal and two Pan-Am Championships gold medals. Now, she will see if she can add to that list of accomplishments at the 2024 Games.

Linda Morais, 30, Tecumseh, ON, Montreal-National Training Centre, 68kg

Linda Morais was the final member of the team to qualify, accomplishing the feat by earning the spot at the final World Olympic Qualifier, an event that saw 22 other competitors in her weight class. While those were difficult odds, overcoming the odds is nothing new to Morais. After failing to qualify for Rio 2016, Morais rebounded and captured a world championship in 2019. With the Tokyo Olympics right on the horizon, Morais was in a prime position to attend her first Games. However, after failing to qualify for Tokyo, she contemplated quitting the sport. After her coach persuaded her not to, she changed weight classes, and in 2022 and captured a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games and bronze at the World Championships. Now, she will look to complete her redemption story in Paris.

Justina Di Stasio, 31, Burnaby, BC, Burnaby Mountain Wrestling Club, 76kg

Justina Di Stasio, has won many awards during her wrestling career, including a World championship, Commonwealth Games championship, Pan-Am Games championship and numerous medals at other continental and international events. Paris 2024 marks the first time that Justina will compete at the Olympics. Justina represents many communities; she draws on both her father’s Italian roots and her mother’s Indigenous (Norway House Cree Nation) heritage to shape who she is. For Justina, not only are these Games a culmination of her own personal journey but also an opportunity to be the reason more youth get involved in the sport of wrestling.

Alex Moore, 26, Montreal, QC, Montreal – National Training Centre, 86kg

Alex Moore is the definition of overcoming injuries and adversity. He burst onto the national team scene at a young age, after growing up in the sport with his dad as a coach. He represented Canada at major events such as the Commonwealth Games and Pan-Am Games. Yet, Alex was dealt a handful of injuries he needed to battle through. Four years ago, while on the road to the Tokyo Games, he tore his ACL. Then, before his wrestle off, he needed shoulder surgery and could not compete. Despite two major surgeries, Alex has always persevered. He won the 2023 Canadian Championship and followed it up by winning at the Canadian Team Trials in December of 2023. However, before the Pan-Am Olympic Qualifiers, Alex suffered another setback, breaking his hand. He only got out of his cast a few weeks before the event. Despite minimal practice, Alex showed his determination by clinching a spot for Paris at the event.

Amar Dhesi, 28, Surrey, BC, Burnaby Mountain Wrestling Club, 125kg

Amar Dhesi is the only returning member of Canada’s 2024 Olympic Team after competing at the Tokyo Games. Dhesi is a second generation Canadian and his family has strong roots in the sport of wrestling with both his father and grandfather being wrestlers. The family originates from India, and the State of Punjab, which also has a storied history with the sport.  Dhesi’s father immigrated to Canada in 1976 and started Khalsa Wrestling Club, helping to originate the sport in the Indo-Canadian community. Dhesi started wrestling to continue the family tradition but even now as he enters his second Games, he continues to give back to his community. Not only will he drop in to help out at his father’s club, but Dhesi recently became a police officer in Vancouver. As a former Commonwealth Games and Pan-Am Championships gold medalist, Dhesi will look to represent all his communities and strike gold at the 2024 Games.

The 2024 Canadian Olympic Wresters each have truly unique and inspiring stories. Now you have the opportunity to help each of them write the next chapter in their story. The team needs all the support they can get so help by donating to the team or any individual athlete here. When you donate, you have the option to decide where you would like it to go, so you can support one, multiple or all athletes on this year’s team. Donations in excess of $50 also automatically qualify for a tax receipt, subject to the WCL Donation and Tax Receipt Policy.

In addition to individual donations, WCL is seeking corporate sponsors for the team. There are many ways that WCL can work with your organization to create the best package that suits your needs.  For more information, contact Darren Matte, Manager, Communications and Marketing at [email protected]

The countdown is on, and the 2024 Paris Olympic Games will be here before we know it, so don’t hesitate to contribute to Canada’s Wrestling team and help these athletes amazing athletes reach their full potential.