A three-time Olympian and a three-time freestyle wrestling 55 kg medallist, Tonya Verbeek is officially the most decorated Canadian wrestler of all-time. Verbeek captured her third medal in London, narrowly missing out on gold.
Verbeek earned a berth on the London team after placing second at the 2011 World Championships in the 55 kg division. Born in Grimsby, Ontario, the legendary Canadian wrestler captured an Olympic silver medal in the 55kg weight class in Athens in 2004 and followed that up with a bronze medal in the same weight class at the Beijing 2008 Games.
Her second-place finish in 2004 made her Canada’s first-ever Olympic medallist in women’s wrestling.
In 2011, Verbeek won silver at the Pan American Games in Guadalajara to add to the bronze medal that she won in 2007 in Rio de Janeiro. Verbeek also holds two bronze medals from the World Championships in 2005 and 2009 and a 2010 Commonwealth Games silver.
The 11-time national champion has her Masters in Education from Brock University.
Club:
Brock Wrestling Club
Languages spoken:
English
Idols (in sport or other):
I don’t have a particular person
Favourite activities outside of sport:
Spending time with my dog Winnie, also spending time with family, friends, and loved ones
Sibling(s) Name(s) (date of birth):
Sean, Elisha, Jeron
Training Location(s):
Brock University
Preferred sport events / Specialties:
hockey, tennis, golf
Coach(es):
Marty Calder, Leigh Vierling
Senior national athlete since:
1995
College/ University (year graduated):
Brock University, 2000, 2003, 2006
Focus of studies:
Recreation and Leisure Studies, Education
Other sports participated in:
Skipping or Jump Rope
Favourite movies / TV shows:
Notebook, Anne of Green Gables, Sound of Music; Grey’s Anatomy, private practice, dancing with the stars, law and order, iron chef america
National titles (include event, year):
National Champion 1995, 2004-2009, 2011 in 55kg
National Champion 2010 in 59kg
Pan Am Games results — all events, all Games:
Silver 2003 (Pan Am Games)
Bronze 2007 (Pan Am Games)
Silver 2004 (Olympic Games)
Bronze 2008 (Olympic Games)
Silver 2005 (University Games)
World Championship appearances – Best results by year:
Bronze 2005
Bronze 2009
Major awards (ex. CDN Player of Year, Hall of Fame inductee):
Ontario athlete of the year, 2005
Hall of Fame inductee – Brock University, 2009
