Silver again for Verbeek
Tonya Verbeek has grappled her way on to her third Olympic podium.
One day after teammate Carol Huynh (Hazelton, BC) earned bronze in the 48kg class, Beamsville ON’s Tonya Verbeek brought Canada’s medal count to 16 and gave herself a third trip to the Olympic podium. The 2008 bronze medallist and 2004 silver medallist added a second silver after dropping the gold medal match 0-3 to Saori Yoshida of Japan at ExCel Thursday night in the 55kg class.
“I felt really good going in,” said Verbeek. “I was soaking it all up. The stadium was incredible. There are a lot of people here to support me and I felt that.”
Though gold would have been a sweet end to what Verbeek has said will be her last Olympic Games, the silver medal puts an emotionally charged exclamation on an impressive career.
“I’m not sad, I’m just trying to embrace the moment,” she said. “(Saori Yoshida) is beatable. She has weaknesses like we all do. But this is just the way it goes, I’m happy to bring home a silver medal for Canada and for women’s wrestling, I really am.”
