OTTAWA— Wrestling Canada Lutte (WCL) is proud to announce that three athletes have received Quest for Gold Awards for their performance at the 2021 Senior and U23 World Championships.

The WCL Board of Directors exceptionally supported awards this year for Surrey, B.C.’s Ana Godinez Gonzalez, Fredericton, N.B.’s Samantha Stewart and Cornwall, P.E.I.’s Hannah Taylor based on their medal-winning performances at the recent World Championships.

WCL established the Quest for Gold Awards in 1992 to recognize the athletic achievements of wrestlers who have reached the podium at the World Championships and Olympic Games. Since inception, more than $160,000 in grants has been awarded to athletes through the Quest for Gold fund through 66 medal performances.

For the 2021 awards, Godinez Gonzalez will receive $5,000 for winning gold at the U23 World Championships, Nov. 1-7 in Belgrade, Serbia. Godinez Gonzalez cruised to the finals of the 62kg weight class, not conceding a point along the way. She capped it off with a 10-7 victory in the gold medal match.

Taylor will receive $2,000 for winning bronze at the U23 World Championships in the 57kg weight class. Taylor lost her opening match to the eventual gold medalist but battled back through the repechage to earn the bronze.

Stewart will also receive $2,000 for her bronze medal at the Senior World Championships, Oct. 2-10, in Oslo, Norway. Stewart won her opening match but lost her second to the eventual silver medalist. She won her repechage match by technical superiority to earn a spot in the bronze, which she won by fall.

Congratulations goes out to all three women for their exceptional performances. Thanks also to the donors of the Quest for Gold program for the continued support of this valuable recognition program that supports top performing athletes.

To help inspire our athletes to be the best that they can be, please donate here!