Windsor teen takes title and earns gold medal in wrestling at Canada Games
Nineteen-year-old Sophia Bechard is basking in her gold medal victory following a wrestling match at the Canada Summer Games in Niagara Falls.
"I was so relieved because I wanted this for so long,” said Bechard from her home, following her title win on Thursday.
“I set this goal for three or four years and to know that I achieved it was amazing."
The Holy Names graduate won the female 56 Kilogram Weight Class title for the province of Quebec, not Ontario, after moving to Montreal to attend Concordia University last year.
“I trained at L’essor Wrestling Club, and a lot of the alumni from L’essor went to Montreal to pursue post-secondary academics and athletics, and I thought it would be a great place for me as well.
Bechard said she was mentally ready for the competition, and she added it showed her where she is on the national level.
“It is going to help further my training, and further my preparation for nationals next year to hopefully I can represent Canada at the international level,” she said.
Still, Bechard said the training she received in Windsor has been the foundation for her success.
Five years ago when Bechard started high school, she said she wanted to enter a competition which was male dominant to prove to herself she could handle the challenge.
“At Holy Names I joined the team and I was the only female there, and practiced at L’essor a couple of times a week because they had a female dominant team, and I joined the team by grade 11,” she said.
Berchard pointed out there were four or five girls who started with her but later it was just her.
She hopes her story will help inspire other young women to take on challenges.
“It takes a lot of determination and courage, but once you set your mind on something, you can do it,” Berchard said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.