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 Education's Christine Nordhagen competing for gold in Athens
Canadian and campus press are paying special attention to Education's Christine Nordhagen ('94 BEd), a physical education teacher and coach, six-time national women's wrestling champion and Olympic gold-medalist hopeful in Athens. Hailed as a pioneer of women's wrestling, Nordhagen first started wrestling in 1991 while in the midst of her education degree at the University of Alberta. The only girl in the class at the time, she participated and won the first national women's wrestling championship. During the decade's evolution of women's freestyle wrestling, she has not only been centre stage but will be part of something very special as her sport makes its first Olympic debut in Athens. "I've been fighting hard for this spot; it was a challenge," says Nordhagen in a recent interview with Slam Sports. "I wouldn't have gone to the Olympic trials if I didn't want to wrestle on that stage and try to get a medal for my country." Nordhagen's toughest competitors are said to be Japan's five-time world champion Kyoko Hamaguchi and U.S.A.'s world cup and national champion 21 year-old Toccara Montgomery. Yet Alberta's teacher and champion appears fearless in the face of rivalry. "I know that I can beat everyone in my weight class; I've done it," says Nordhagen during a Slam Sports interview. "There are a few girls that I haven't wrestled before but I've won way more tournaments than they have and I'm ranked higher. With the tough girls that are out there, I've beaten them all." Entering the Olympic stadium with her Canadian teamates during yesterday's opening ceremonies, Nordhagen's tears tell of her emotion over this sports splendour. Christine, your faculty applauds and stands behind you August 22-29. Dawn Ford, August 14 2004
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