Erica Wiebe pins Ukrainian opponent for wrestling bronze medal in Kyiv
CBC Sports | Posted: February 27, 2021 8:43 PM | Last Updated: February 27, 2021
Fellow Canadian Olivia Di Bacco bringing home silver from women's 68 kg final
This time, Canadian wrestler Erica Wiebe will return home with a medal around her neck.
The native of Stittsville, Ont., collected her third pin of the tournament, defeating Ukraine's Anna Melnyk in the women's 76-kilogram bronze-medal match at the Outstanding Ukrainian Wrestlers and Coaches Memorial on Saturday.
In December, the 31-year-old Wiebe lost a battle for bronze at a World Cup event in Belgrade, Serbia.
After winning her first two matches by pin Friday, the Calgary resident fell to Aiperi Medet Kyzy of Kyrgyzstan by pin in the semifinals.
WATCH | Olympic-bound Wiebe earns bronze in Ukraine:
The reigning Olympic champion in the 75-kg freestyle class has already qualified for the Tokyo Games this summer.
Wiebe's teammate, Olivia Di Bacco of Orillia, Ont., won silver after losing her 68 kg gold-medal match to Meerim Zhumanazarova of Kyrgyzstan.
WATCH | Olivia Di Bacco of Orillia, Ont., brings home silver:
Toronto's Dillon Williams (70 kg) and Jessica Brouillette (62 kg) of Barrie, Ont., will compete in Sunday's repechage with a chance to qualify for their respective bronze-medal matches.
Fellow Canadians Samantha Stewart, Diana Weicker, Tianna Kennett, Michelle Fazzari and Hunter Lee were unable to make their semifinal matches.
After this weekend, Canadian wrestlers will return to the mats March 4-7 at the Matteo Pellicone tournament in Rome.