Focus on Canadian immigration and listen to Canadian stories: According to a report by Canada's Ming Pao, Canadian Olympic gold medalist and Chinese-Canadian wrestler Carol Huynh has been inducted into the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles (FILA) Hall of Fame. She is the second Canadian female athlete to receive this honor.
Before receiving the honor in Hungary, Carol Huynh stated: "It is a great honor to be inducted into the Hall of Fame alongside Canadian wrestling legends Christine Nordhagen-Vierling and Daniel Igali, as well as other international wrestling legends."
She noted that the past seven months have made her even more passionate about wrestling, and she is delighted that millions of young athletes around the world still hold onto the dream of becoming Olympic medalists. "I am very proud to be selected for the Hall of Fame; it proves that there are many wonderful people in my life, and without them, I would not have achieved what I have today."
The 33-year-old Carol Huynh won Canada's first-ever Olympic gold medal in women's wrestling at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. She brought glory to Canada again at the 2012 London Olympics, winning a bronze medal. She is a two-time Pan American Games gold medalist (2007 and 2011) and a 2010 Commonwealth Games gold medalist. She is a four-time World Championship medalist and an 11-time Canadian national champion.
Wrestling Canada Lutte stated that Carol has been one of the best ambassadors for the sport, both as an athlete and after her retirement. Since retiring after the 2012 Olympics, Carol has been working as a wrestling coach in Calgary and has traveled to various parts of the world this year to promote the sport.
Tamara Medwidsky, Executive Director of Wrestling Canada Lutte, noted that the induction into the Hall of Fame is a high honor for both Carol Huynh and Canada. "While we will miss seeing her on the mat in the maple leaf singlet, we are thrilled that she continues to be involved in the sport off the mat as a coach, our hero, and an ambassador."
Carol's parents are Vietnamese-Chinese who immigrated to Canada years ago. Carol was born in Hazelton, British Columbia, and has four siblings. She graduated from Simon Fraser University (SFU) with a degree in psychology in 2004. She currently resides in Calgary and holds a Master's degree in counseling psychology. Carol is the second Canadian female wrestler to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, following Christine Nordhagen-Vierling in 2006. Male wrestler Daniel Igali received this honor in 2012.