Olympic wrestling champ Huynh to join Brassard in Rio

TORONTO — Olympic wrestling champion Carol Huynh has been named Canada’s assistant chef de mission for the Rio Olympics.

The 35-year-old from Hazelton, B.C., made history at the 2008 Beijing Games when she captured Canada’s first-ever Olympic gold medal in women’s wrestling. It was the country’s first medal at those Games.

She went on to win bronze four years later at the London Olympics. She’s also an 11-time Canadian champion, a two-time Pan American champion, Commonwealth champion and four-time world medallist.

“My Olympic experience has largely defined my life and I’m excited to accompany other athletes along their journeys,” Huynh said. “I have been given an extraordinary opportunity to give back to sport, the Olympic movement and the country. I’m entirely committed to make the best of that opportunity.”

Huynh was a key part of the group that lobbied the International Olympic Committee to keep her sport on the Olympic program after the IOC planned to remove it as of 2020. She and fellow Olympic champion Daniel Igali were part of a six-member team that pleaded wrestling’s case in a presentation to the IOC in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Huynh will work alongside Canada’s chef de mission and Olympic moguls champion Jean-Luc Brassard in Rio.

“(Huynh) has exhibited passion, class and extraordinary commitment to sport throughout her career as an athlete, coach and sports advocate,” Brassard said. “Those are the qualities we looked for to fill the role. I couldn’t think of a better partner to lead the team as we enter our Olympic year.”