In Grade 7, a 12-year-old Justine Bouchard, inspired by her school’s French teacher, made the decision that she wanted to become a wrestler. Now she is one match away from qualifying for the 2012 Olympic games in London, England.
“But isn’t that sport only for boys?” Bouchard asked her teacher. Her teacher replied that “girls can do anything boys can do.” Bouchard knew this first-hand, as her brother was wrestler in school as well. The path to the Olympics is a long one for any athlete and like the stories of any other athlete, the path taken is never an easy one.
“I didn’t become successful overnight, wrestling is something I really committed my life to, it’s my passion,” said Bouchard.
Bouchard, now 25, spoke of her first wrestling tournament where she won her very first match. Unfortunately, that beginners luck began to fade and Bouchard was handed losses in each of her following matches. Rather than become deterred from the sport, Bouchard worked and trained harder to improve. It’s a strategy she hopes will resonate with the children she speaks to.
“When something gets tough, that doesn’t mean you quit. It means you have great lessons to learn and you can grow from those losses,” said Bouchard to a crowd of Grade 3-6 students at École du Sommet on Wednesday.
Originally raised in Westaskawin, Bouchard now wrestles at the University of Calgary (U of C) where she enjoyed success early in her career while competing in U16, U18, and U20 tournaments, amassing a combined total of 13 gold medals as a member of the Dinos Wrestling program.
Bouchard credits her success to wrestling coach at the U of C, Leigh Vierling, and his ability to prepare and manage her career thus far. In University competition, Bouchard went on to win three gold medals at the 63 kg weight class in 2006, 2007 and 2009, including a gold in the World University Championships in 2008.
It was in 2009 where Bouchard said she really “came out of her shell,” and it was in that same year where Bouchard competed at the World Championships in Denmark and came out with a podium finish, bronze medal performance. Continuing to feed off that success Bouchard captured the 63 kg gold medal at the Commonwealth games in Dehli, India last November.
These two recent performances have placed her as the number one ranked 63 kg wrestler in Canada and have earned her one match against the second ranked 63 kg wrestler at the Olympic qualifiers later this year in December. They have given Bouchard the opportunity to compete at the highest level and they have given her the confidence to believe she can place well.
“This is part of the process but I do believe I can do well at this level,” said Bouchard. “I’ve proven to myself that I can be on the podium at the world level.”
