ATHLETICS
Olympian made ambassador for active living
Olympic gold-medallist Erica Wiebe has been named a provincial ambassador to encourage Albertans to take part in sports and live an active lifestyle.
Culture, Multiculturalism and Status of Women Minister Leela Aheer made the announcement during the Alberta Winter Games in Airdrie on Saturday. The yearlong appointment will see Wiebe travel across the province to encourage underrepresented or marginalized populations to take up sport, and to raise awareness about the benefits of staying active.
“I truly believe sport has the power to change lives, has the power to unite communities, has the power to transform our economy and our people at the individual and community level,” said Wiebe.
The world-class wrestler won gold at the 2018 and 2014 Commonwealth Games, and the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — the third Canadian to medal in wrestling at the Olympics and second Canadian woman to win gold after Carol Huynh in 2008.
Following gold in Rio, Wiebe wrestled in the Indian Pro Wrestling League and was captain of the Mumbai Maharathi. She is now an ambassador for sport groups Fast and Female and Right To Play.
Wiebe, 30, began wrestling in high school in Ontario and now lives and trains in Calgary.
“One of my first wrestling coaches was a woman who just finished university (who was) about my size, and seeing her in a coaching role made me never question my desire to be involved in sport, to be a wrestler and to go out and — many, many years later — compete against the best in the world,” said Wiebe, standing at the podium as her Zone 3 girls wrestling team stood behind her.
“I’m here today continuing that legacy.”
Aheer said Wiebe was an obvious choice for the role because of her community activism, world-class talent and history of shattering glass ceilings and breaking barriers in sport.
“We all know (Wiebe) is a leader and a role model, a tough-as-nails athlete,” said Aheer.
“But what really struck me about (Wiebe), beyond the athlete we know and love, is the impact that (Wiebe) has on her community and everyone that she meets — her ability to connect with people and make them feel like they are really part of something special.”
Amid an ongoing opioid crisis, ever-growing reliance on technology, and mental-health and addictions issues affecting Albertans,
Aheer said encouraging active participation in sports and exercise is more important than ever.
“You have to look at fundamental reasons why these things are happening — and there are a lot of them — but one of them is being able to function in your community. Sport, music, arts, culture — all of those things are what bring people out of their homes and bring them into community events,” said Aheer.
She added it’s especially important for new Canadians, Indigenous people or Albertans of marginalized backgrounds to actively participate in the community.
“Fundamentally, aside from the obvious things of wellness and sport and exercising and all of the things that are together, it’s actually about connection.”
Wiebe will continue training for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo during her ambassadorship.
She will be awarded an honorarium by the province.