Wrestler Charles Thoms fails to seize bronze at Pan Am Games

Thursday afternoon did not go as planned for wrestler Charles Thoms of Fredericton, who lost in the quarterfinals and bronze medal match in 130 kg Greco-Roman wrestling at the Pan Am Games.

But it wasn't all about the results for Thoms.

"It was pretty surreal. I've never seen a crowd like that," said Thoms. "It was great to know the support was there."

Thoms first took on Andres Ayub of Chile, who took a quick lead in the quarterfinal match. When Ayub had a 6-2 lead Thoms' coach thought a mistake was made in the judging, so he challenged the call. Since the judge found that he had made the right call, Ayub got another point.

"I was in it. I had him on his back, and I was really close to the pin," said Thoms. 

The pin would have given him the automatic win, but he couldn't finish it off. At the end of the first round, Ayub led 9-2.

The second round was over quickly, and Ayub won 10-2. 

"The score didn't reflect how close that match was. I was less than an inch away from pinning that guy," said Thoms. 

 Thoms then competed in the bronze medal match, where he lost 2-0 to Josue Encarnacion of the Dominican Republic. 

"That was a tough match. I was exhausted after. But win or lose, being in a match like that, that experience is invaluable," said Thoms.  

Thoms is going to take a few weeks to relax, but will be back at it soon. He hopes to train for and compete at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.