Brock University alumna Hannah Taylor (BSM ’21) has embarked on an Olympic wrestling odyssey.

She recently emerged victorious from the Canadian Teams Trials last month, where wrestlers battled for the honour of representing Canada at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

As top seed in the women’s 57-kilogram division, Taylor faced a gripping final against teammate and current Brock varsity athlete Mia Friesen. Taylor secured victories of 7-1 and 11-0.

Now a member of Team Canada, Taylor has to succeed at the Pan-American Olympic Qualifier in Acapulco, Mexico in order to compete at the Olympic Games.

To prepare for the international qualification tournament, Taylor will compete in the World Ranking Series in Zagreb, Croatia, and the France Open in Nice, France. She will also participate in an intense international training camp in Budapest, Hungary.

Taylor’s mindset has shifted since she competed in the last Trials four years ago, focusing more on the technical aspects of wrestling.

“I was doing what it took to be successful against my teammates rather than working on the components of the game that would make me successful on the international stage,” Taylor said. “Taking risks, trying new things, exploring the art of wrestling and perfecting my defence are all aspects of my training that I have leaned into over the past four years. My results are a testament to that.”

The eight-time national champion captured a silver medal for Canada at the Pan Am Games in Chile last November.

Taylor, who was a varsity wrestler while completing her degree, said Brock women’s wrestling Head Coach Marty Calder along with Assistant Coaches Dave Collie and Heather Sweezey have given her an edge on the mat.

“Their support, tough love, honesty, respect and knowledge make them some of the top wrestling coaches in the world. This collective excellence ensures our team’s dominance at all levels and helps my path to Olympic dreams,” she said.

As a graduate, she maintains a rigorous training schedule with the Brock Wrestling Club. Along with her fellow Brock wrestlers, Taylor conducts nine on-mat sessions and four strength and conditioning workouts per week, including extra weight management sessions.

Off the mat, Taylor’s routine includes working on her mindset with self-talk, positive affirmations and shifting anxiety into excitement.

“We’ve got our work cut out for us,” she said. “Beyond the physical grind, I make it a point during the workweek to mentally prepare myself. This involves watching videos of my opponents, breaking down concepts with coaches and teammates, maintaining positive self-talk during workouts, and reflecting on my practices. This equates to me being prepared physically and mentally for when I am competing.”

Taylor attributes her work ethic to her fiancé and primary training partner, Ligrit Sadiku (BKin ‘20).

“He consistently emerges as the hardest worker, investing hours in analyzing matches of top-tier athletes, researching nutritional strategies for weight cuts and actively seeking insights from elite wrestlers and coaches,” she said. “Ligrit has not only coached me to improve but has also held me accountable, presented challenges and offered unwavering support and tough love when needed.”

Taylor’s family is another major source of motivation. She has had to sacrifice time with loved ones while travelling to more than 20 countries during her wrestling career, but moved home for nine months during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In watching my parents, grandparents and in-laws age, I often feared other elements of my life were passing me by. The experience of moving back home made me realize that everyone understood that the long months away are worth it as they are happy that I’m going all in to chase these dreams.”