—Pan-American Olympic Qualification Tournament, March 13-15, set for the Shaw Centre in Nation’s Capital—

OTTAWA—Erica Wiebe will fight for the opportunity to defend her Olympic gold medal as the nation’s best wrestlers hit the mat at Ottawa’s Shaw Centre, March 13-15.

The 30-year-old Wiebe will return to her hometown as the best women’s and men’s wrestlers on the Americas continent will battle for coveted Olympic spots. The top two wrestlers in each Olympic category in Ottawa will secure one quota spot for their nation for the 2020 Olympic Games.

Wiebe’s personal quest to represent Canada at her second Olympic Summer Games, will begin on March 14 at 10:30 a.m.

“I can’t think of a better place in the country to try and secure a spot on Team Canada than at home in Ottawa. Wrestling has strong roots in Ottawa and it was where it all started for me. It’ll be exciting to compete at home with my home club (National Capital Wrestling Club) supporting in the crowd and volunteering to make this event a success,” said Wiebe, who captured the hearts of her country with her emotional gold medal victory celebration at the 2016 Games.

“The team has worked hard to prepare for this event, and we are all ready to put on a great show for the nation’s capital city.”

The women’s semi-finals are slated for 12:30 p.m. with the finals set to begin at 5 p.m. on Saturday.

Tickets can be purchased at https://events.myconferencesuite.com/Pan-American_Olympic_Qualification_Tournament

D.E. Systems – Registration | MyConference Suite2020 Pan-American Olympic Qualification Tournament Competition Days and Timesevents.myconferencesuite.com

Who:               Erica Wiebe – Olympic Wrestling Champion

WHEN:             March 14-15, 2020

March 14   

10:30 a.m. – Qualification rounds & repechage Women’s Wrestling – 50-53-57-62-68-76kg

12:30 p.m. – Women’s Semi-Finals

  5:00 p.m. – Women’s Finals

March 15
10:00 a.m. – Qualification rounds & repechage Men’s Freestyle – 57-65-74-86-97-125kg
  1:30 p.m. – Men’s Semi-Finals

  5:00 p.m. – Men’s Finals

WHERE:           Shaw Centre

                        55 Colonel By Drive

                        Ottawa

Media Note: Erica Wiebe will be available to speak with media following her matches on March 14.

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For more information, please contact:

Onsite Media Contact

Chris Reith

Wrestling Canada

E-mail: creith@wrestling.ca

Erica Wiebe Interview Requests outside of Qualifying Event

Chris Dornan

T: 403-620-8731

E-mail: hpprchris@shaw.ca