PEI

P.E.I. wrestler Hannah Taylor earns a silver for Canada at Pan Am Games

One P.E.I. athlete earned a silver medal Thursday evening at the Pan Am Games in Chile, and another just missed out on bronze, placing first among all the Canadians competing.

Wrestler wins a silver medal for Canada; triathlete places 4th and is top Canadian

P.E.I. wrestler Hannah Taylor is shown pinning Ecuador's Luisa Valverde in the match that led to her entering the gold-medal round Thursday night.
P.E.I. wrestler Hannah Taylor is shown pinning Ecuador's Luisa Valverde in the match that led to her entering the gold-medal round Thursday night. (Candice Ward/COC)

One P.E.I. athlete earned a silver medal for Canada Thursday evening at the Pan Am Games in Chile, and another just missed out on bronze earlier in the day.

Wrestler Hannah Taylor won her semi-final against Ecuador's Luisa Valverde Thursday morning, putting her into the gold-medal round against Giullia Rodrigues of Brazil in the women's freestyle 57-kilo category.

But Taylor, 25, had to settle for silver after a hard-fought matchup that ended with a 7-6 score in favour of the Brazilian.

"It feels good to make the podium," Taylor later told CBC News. "Four years ago I actually participated at the Pan American Games in Peru ... I lost my first match and I was eliminated from the competition. So four years later, to come back and win a medal is obviously pretty special." 

A smiling woman in a burgundy Lululemon jacket stands on a podium wearing a silver medal on a ribbon around her neck. She is holding a small plush stuffed bird.
Prince Edward Island wrestler Hannah Taylor smiles after receiving her silver medal in Santiago, Chile, on Thursday night. In her right hand is a stuffed version of Fiu, the Pan Am Games mascot based on a South American bird called the rush tyrant. (Candice Ward/COC)

The Summerside resident took the bronze for Canada in the same event at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Earlier in the day, P.E.I.'s Martin Sobey placed fourth in men's triathlon in the Chilean port town of Vina Del Mar after a strong ending in the race portion.

"I was hurting for a lot of the run," Sobey, 27, was quoted as saying in a news release from Triathlon Canada. "I felt pretty tired, but I knew if I kept fighting and put myself out there, that at the end of the race anything is possible."

His time of 1:46:31 was the top Canadian result in the field of 36 competitors from across North, Central and South America.

Two fit-looking men sprint along a blue pathway with logos saying Santiago 2023.
Martin Sobey, at right, sprints to a fourth-place finish in the men's triathlon at the PanAm Games on Thursday. (Submitted by World Triathlon)

"I always look at every race opportunity as a privilege to be out here and battle against these guys. Anyone would die to be there," the Charlottetown athlete told Triathlon Canada.

"I'm just thankful to be out here. That means every time I do it, we are going to give it everything — no matter the result, I can go home and be proud of myself — and that's exactly what I did."

The games continue in Santiago through November 5.