OTTAWA/TORONTO (October 27, 2023) – Wrestling Canada Lutte (WCL) and the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) announce the following changes to Canada’s wrestling team that will compete at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games.

Team Canada’s wrestlers for the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games are now:

Athletes
WW 57kg Hannah Taylor (Summerside, P.E.I.)
WW 68kg Olivia Di Bacco (Orillia, Ont.)
WW 76kg Shauna Kuebeck (McKellar, ON)
FS 74kg Adam Thomson (Komoka, Ont.)
FS 86kg Hunter Lee (Flin Flon, MB)
FS 97kg Nishan Randhawa (Abbotsford, B.C.)

The athletes were selected for Santiago 2023 based on their performances at the 2023 Canadian Wrestling Championships that took place March 9 -12 in Waterloo, Ont. The team members either won their weight class or were the number two and have been substituted in after withdrawals. Six of the seven team members also represented Canada at the recent World Championships, Sept. 16-24 in Belgrade, Serbia. 

This will be the second Pan-Am Games for a pair team members as both Taylor and Di Bacco are returning to the Games after competing at Lima 2019. Many members of the Santiago 2023 team also represented Canada last summer at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games where Canadians won an impressive 12 medals. 

Team Canada aims to build on the success from Lima 2019, which included six medals won (one gold, one silver, and four bronze).

“The Pan American Games are an opportunity for our best wrestlers to test themselves against an incredible field of opponents from the Americas. The Pan American countries are improving by leaps and bounds at the international level, with many countries reaching the podium at various international and world events,” said Chris Woodcroft, WCL High Performance Director. “This event will provide an excellent measuring stick for our athletes leading into our final preparation phase, prior to next summer’s Paris 2024 Olympic Games. We are looking forward to competing at one of the largest multi-sport games in the world. It is always a privilege to represent our country on the international stage and few things compare to wearing the flag at an international games!”

Wrestling will take place November 1-4 (Days 12 to 15) at the Centro de Entrenamiento Olímpico.

“What an amazing group of wrestlers I have the honour of welcoming to Team Canada for these Pan Am Games,” said Christine Girard, Team Canada’s Santiago 2023 Chef de Mission. “Veterans and rookies, all learning from each other while carrying out the impressive legacy of Canadian wrestling. Let’s cheer them on as they bring their best to the team!”

Team Canada’s wrestling team coaches and support staff for the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games are:

Coaches
David Collie (Fonthill, ON)– Coach
Raj Virdi (Surrey, B.C.) – Coach

Support Staff
Chris Woodcroft (Huntsville, Ont) – High Performance Director, Team Leader
Surinder Budwal (Cambridge, Ont) – Athletic Therapist

Prior to being named to Team Canada, all nominations are subject to approval by the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Team Selection Committee following its receipt of nominations by all National Sport Organisations.

The latest Team Canada Santiago 2023 roster can be found here.