Player's Own Voice

Player's Own Voice podcast: Erica Wiebe's no-holds-barred take on the oldest sport

The Player's Own Voice podcast gets new insights into the world's oldest sport with Canadian powerhouse wrestler Erica Wiebe.

Irrepressible wrestling champion takes leadership role to heart

Canada's Erica Wiebe, from Stittsville, Ont., smiles from the podium after winning the gold medal in the women's 75kg freestyle wrestling at the Rio Olympics in 2016. She opens up about how that achievement drastically changed her life on the Players' Own Voice podcast. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press)

When the irrepressible Erica Wiebe wrestled her way to gold at the Rio Olympics in 2016, she opened up a world of new opportunity and responsibility. 

The opportunities were obvious — a vivacious gold-medal winner like herself would tempt a variety of sponsors.

What is surprising perhaps is the new responsibility that came as the free-spirited freestyle wrestler quickly became a role model and mentor for young women, who can now see themselves in the world's oldest sport.

Despite all the success, Wiebe learned that it can sometimes be lonely at the top of the podium. 

Player's Own Voice podcast host Anastasia Bucsis takes a timely visit with Canadian wrestler Erica Wiebe. 

Like the CBC Sports' Player's Own Voice essay series, POV podcast lets athletes speak to Canadians about issues from a personal perspective. To listen to Erica Wiebe  and earlier guests this season, subscribe for free on iTunes, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Tune In or wherever you get your other podcasts.