{"id":40550,"date":"2016-08-16T13:29:49","date_gmt":"2016-08-16T17:29:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/?p=40550"},"modified":"2016-08-16T13:29:49","modified_gmt":"2016-08-16T17:29:49","slug":"brock-wrestlers-going-for-gold-this-week-at-the-olympic-games-in-rio","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/2016\/08\/brock-wrestlers-going-for-gold-this-week-at-the-olympic-games-in-rio\/","title":{"rendered":"Brock wrestlers going for gold this week at the Olympic Games in Rio"},"content":{"rendered":"

Years of sacrifice, struggle and strength will come down to one moment for two Brock University wrestlers competing at the Rio Olympics this week.<\/span><\/p>\n

Michelle Fazzari, a Brock grad and wrestling team member, will see her Olympic dream come true Wednesday when she competes in the 58-kilogram division. The event begins at 9 a.m.<\/p>\n

She\u2019s wrestled hard for the past 11 years to get to the Olympic Games.\u00a0Before leaving for Brazil, she was feeling focused, optimistic and grateful.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat an opportunity. I get to represent Canada. How lucky I am because there\u2019s probably a thousand other people who would love to be in my shoes,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been an uphill battle but this is what I\u2019ve fought so hard for.<\/span><\/p>\n

Working towards Olympic gold hasn\u2019t always been easy.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are so many times in this sport when you want to give up,\u201d Fazzari said, noting she\u2019s had her eye on the Olympics since she was 19 and a student at Brock. \u201cIt\u2019s been an uphill battle but this is what I\u2019ve fought so hard for.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 29-year-old Hamilton native said she definitely has her eye on a medal.<\/p>\n

\u201cI haven\u2019t worked this hard to just go there. I want to be on that podium,\u201d she said. \u201cThis is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.\u201d
\nBut, Fazzari said no matter what happens in Rio, she won\u2019t have any regrets.\u00a0\u201cThis has been way more of an emotional journey than I ever dreamed of.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brock wrestling coach Marty Calder, who is in Rio with the team, said Fazzari has been a Top 10 wrester since 2012. He said she is a tremendous defensive wrestler and also has solid offensive skills.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe a complete athlete,\u201d he said. \u201cShe\u2019s dominating and very strong and fit for her size.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said she will be a force to be reckoned with on the mats in Rio.<\/p>\n

Brock wrestling team member Jillian Gallays will compete in the 53-kilogram event on Thursday starting at 9 a.m.<\/p>\n

The 29 year old from Saskatoon uprooted her life two years ago to come to Brock and train with the wrestling team.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a move that paid off and helped her make her Olympic dream come true.\u00a0While Gallays started wrestling in Grade 9, she didn\u2019t go pro until 2012.<\/p>\n

Regardless of the outcome, I\u2019m so proud and happy with my journey.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI really just wrestled because I love the sport,\u201d she said. \u201cThese last four years, I\u2019ve focused on the Olympics.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gallays is proud to be representing Canada and the Brock wrestling team.<\/p>\n

\u201cRegardless of the outcome, I\u2019m so proud and happy with my journey,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019m so thankful I moved to Brock.\u201d<\/p>\n

She said she\u2019s anxious to find out how she\u2019ll do in the Olympics. Like Fazzari, she\u2019s in it to win it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t work this hard to go to the Olympics. I want to win. I want to bring home a medal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Calder said Gallays has skills that can devastate her competitors on the mat.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe is a grinder. She has a real knack for competing,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Calder said the wrestlers are staying a few hours from Rio in order to keep their heads in the game and continue training without distractions.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a method that worked well for him as a competitor when he wrestled for Canada in two Olympic Games and as a Team Canada coach in five others.<\/p>\n\n\t