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WORLD CHAMP NORDHAGEN WINS AGAIN
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The Calgary Sun
September 5, 2000
Calgary's queen of the mat has conquered another mountain, and frankly, one
of her coaches wonders if there are any more left for her to tackle.
"It's amazing, effing amazing," was University of Calgary wrestling club
boss Mitch Ostberg's exuberant response to Christine Nordhagen winning her
fifth world championship, in Sofia, Bulgaria, yesterday. "That gal never
fails to amaze me. She's phenomenal. Unbelievable!"
The four-time world champ at 68 kilograms, Nordhagen moved up to 75 kilos --
the heaviest weight class in the women's game -- last year and finished
third.
This time, she was not about to be stopped. In the semifinals, she
convincingly dethroned Japan's Kyoko Hamaguchi -- winner of four of the last
five worlds, including the past three -- drubbing her 9-4. Then, with her
husband and national team coach Leigh Vierling looking on, she waxed Edya
Witkowska of Poland 6-2 in the gold-medal match.
Ostberg nearly ran out superlatives. "There's nobody else to beat," he
raves. "She's beaten everybody. Once again, I've seen her beat somebody I
didn't think she could beat. Chris is the one who's unbeatable.
The win over Hamaguchi was a stunner for Ostberg.
"I thought she'd met her match," he admits. "That girl is not only four-
time world champ, but she is a tank. She's an absolute brute. She's bigger
and stronger than Chris, or so I thought she was. But she just has an
exceptional ability to take on a huge challenge, and elevate her
performance.
"They were tied 4-4 after the first round. She came out in the second and
scored three right off the bat. Then she added two more. 9-4, that's
dominance."
Even after that, Nordhagen was in tough in the finale.
"We saw the Polish girl in Winnipeg, and she beat Christine," Ostberg
recalls. "She's a big, strong athlete who can really wrestle. These girls
are very good, very powerful, but Christine just outhustles them.
"She's in her late 20s now, 28, and you wonder how long she can keep
improving. But she does. It's amazing. I've run out of things to say. She's
shocked me again!"
Ostberg does have one gripe. "It's a crying shame women's wrestling is not
in the Olympics," he states. "It's a crying shame the IOC and our own
international federation didn't see fit to include it. This could've been an
Olympic tournament. And we could have a gold medallist."
Still it was a good week. With two bronze medals, from B.C.'s Carol Huynh
(46 kg) and Jennifer Ryz (56) to go with Nordhagen, Canada finished third,
its best showing ever, behind Japan and Russia. And they might've been
second.
"One of our girls from Calgary, Trish Leibel (62 kilos), pinned the world
champ a month ago," says Ostberg. "But she hurt her knee just before she
left. She tried to wrestle, but had to withdraw. She could've medalled too."
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Christine Nordhagen wins her fifth World Championship, Huynh and Ryz take bronze at Senior Women's World Championships
9/4/2000
Christine Nordhagen wins her fifth World Championship, Huynh and Ryz take bronze at Senior Women's World Championships
SOFIA, BULGARIA - SEPTEMBER 4, 2000
Christine Nordhagen (University of Calgary W.C., Calgary, Alberta) won a gold medal and her fifth World Championship at 75 kilograms, leading the Canadian team to its highest ever placing, third, at the Women's World Wrestling Championships, in Sofia, Bulgaria.
She finished with a 4-0 record in the tournament. She defeated Ana Hernandez from Venezuela by a grand superiority (10-0 score) and pinned Wang Jo-Mei from Chinese Taipae to win her pool. In the semi-finals she defeated four time, and current defending World Champion at 75 KG, Kyoko Hamaguchi from Japan, by a 9-4 score. The match was tied going into the second period when Christine took control and scored two straight single point takedowns and finished the match with a three point throw with 20 seconds left.
Christine avenged her loss to Hamaguchi in the 1999 World Championships semi-finals with the victory. It was Hamaguchi's first loss in four years of international competition. She then defeated Edyta Witkowska from Poland, by a 6-2 score, to win the gold medal.
Nordhagen won her previous four World titles at 68 KG before moving up a weight class in 1999 were she won a bronze medal.
Carol Huynh and Jennifer Ryz (Burnaby Mountain Wrestling Club, Burnaby, B.C.) claimed bronze medals at 46 and 56 kilograms respectively.
This was Huynh's first World Senior Championships after competing in the World Junior Championships in 1999 and 2000. Carol defeated Caripa Mayelis from Venezuela by a fall and Kao Wei-Chien from Chnese Taipae by 11-1 score to win her pool. In the semi-finals she lost to Inga Karmchakova from Russia by an 8-3 score. Carol came back to win the bronze medal match by defeating Farah Touchi from France by a 4-0 score in overtime. Touchi won the bronze medal at 46 kilograms in 1999.
Jennifer Ryz came back out of retirement to compete for the 2000 Senior National Team. She was a previous silver medallist at the 1996 World Championships. This was her fourth National Team appearance. She defeated Perchin Ugrun from Turkey by a fall, Mabel Fonseca Ramirez from Puerto Rico by 5-3 score, Ramirez was the U.S. National Champion but competes for Puerto Rico internationally, and finally defeated Yolianni Orellana from Venezuela by a 8-0 decision to win her pool. In the semi-finals she lost a narrow 3-2 decision to Seiko Yamamoto from Japan. Yamamoto is the current Junior World Champion. In the bronze medal match, Jennifer defeated Selma Ferchichi from Tunisia by a 4-0 decision.
Two other Canadian wrestlers placed in the top 10 of their respective weight classes. Lyndsay Belisle (Burnaby Mountain Wrestling Club, Burnaby, B.C.) at 51 kilograms and Shannon Samler (Burnaby Mountain Wrestling Club, Burnaby, B.C.) at 68 kilograms. Exact placements were not available but Samler placed between 6-9th position and Belisle placed between 7-10th position.
Japan won the team title with 48 points, Russia was second with 34 points and Canada placed third with 31 points. Ukraine with 27 points, the United States with 25 points, and Germany with 20 points rounded out the top six. This was Canada's highest team placement since a fourth place finish in 1996.
The Canadian Team was coached by Leigh Vierling (University of Calgary W.C, Calgary, Alberta) and Todd Hinds (Saskatoon W.C., Saskatoon, SK). This was the second assignment for both coaches with the Senior Women's National Team.
Top Ten teams
1. Japan, 48 pts.; 2. Russia, 34 pts.; 3. Canada, 31 pts.; 4. Ukraine, 27 pts.; 5. United States, 25 pts.; 6. Germany, 20 pts.; 7. Poland, 19 pts.; 8. Sweden, 18 pts.; 9. France, 13 pts.; 10. Bulgaria, 13 pts.
Canadian Match Results:
46 KG - CAROL HUYNH (Burnaby Mountain W.C., Burnaby, B.C.)
vs. Mayelis Caripa (VEN) Won by a fall, winning 4-1 at the time.
vs. Kao Wei-Chien (TPE) Won 11-1
vs. Inga Karamchakova (RUS) Lost 8-3
vs. Farah Touchi (FRA) Won 4-0 at 8:13 of the match for the BRONZE MEDAL.
(15 athletes in weight class)
51 KG - LYNDSAY BELISLE (Burnaby Mountain W.C., Burnaby, B.C.)
vs. Bye in pool
vs. Anne Katherine Deluntsch (FRA) Won by a fall.
vs. Hitomi Sakamoto (JPN) Lost 10-0
(16 athletes in weight class)
56 KG - JENNIFER RYZ (Burnaby Mountain W.C., Burnaby, B.C.)
vs. Perchin Ugrun (TUR) Win by a fall, winning 5-0 at the time of the fall.
vs. Mabel Fonseca Ramirez (PUR) Won 5-3
vs. Yolianni Orellana (VEN) Won 8-0
vs. Seiko Yamamoto (JPN) Lost 3-2
vs. Selma Ferchichi (TUN) Won 4-0 for the BRONZE MEDAL
(14 athletes in weight class)
62 KG - TRISH LEIBEL (U of Calgary W.C., Calgary, AB)
vs. Lotta Anderson (SWE) Lost by injury default.
Trish has injured out of the tournament and will place in 17th position.
(17 athletes in weight class)
68 KG - SHANNON SAMLER (Burnaby Mountain W.C., Burnaby, B.C.)
vs. Bye
vs. Anna Schamova (RUS) Lost 6-2
vs. Anita Schatzle (GER) Won 16-4
(13 athletes in weight class)
75 KG - CHRISTINE NORDHAGEN (University of Calgary W.C., Calgary, Alberta)
vs. Wang Jo-Mei (TPE) Won by a fall, winning 6-0 at the time.
vs. Bye
vs. Ana Hernandez (VEN) Won 10-0
vs. Kyoko Hamaguchi (JPN) Won 9-4
vs. Edyta Witkowska (POL) Won 6-2 and claimed the GOLD MEDAL.
(15 athletes in weight class)
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Senior Women's World Championships - Finals
September 3, 2000 -- Sofia, Bulgaria
46 KG (15) CAROL HUYNH (Burnaby Mountain W.C., Buranby, B.C.)
vs. Mayelis Caripa (VEN) Won by a fall, winning 4-1 at the time.
vs. Kao Wei-Chien (TPE) Won 11-1
vs. Bye in pool
vs. Inga Karamchakova (RUS) Lost 8-3
vs. Farah Touchi (FRA) Won 4-0 at 8:13 of the match for the BRONZE MEDAL.
1. Irena McInik - UKR
2. Inga Karamchakova - RUS
3. Carol Huynh - CAN
4. Farah Touchi - FRA
5. Kamilla Tzekova - BUL
6. Maria de los Angeles Barraza - MEX
7. Kao-Wei-Chien - TPE
8. Misato Shimizu - JPN
9. Sarah Ehinger - GER
10. Agaro Papavaslliou - GRE
51 KG (16) LYNDSAY BELISLE (Burnaby Mountain W.C., Buranby, B.C.)
vs. Bye in pool
vs. Anne Katherine Deluntsch (FRA) Won by a fall.
vs. Hitomi Sakamoto (JPN) Lost 10-0
1. Hitmoi Sakamoto - JPN
2. Patricia Miranda - USA
3. Ida Hellstrom - SWE
4. Inesa Rebar - UKR
5. Elena Egochina - RUS
6. Magdalena Arellano Moretos - MEX
7. Yvonne Hees - GER
8. Faira Bjaoui - TUN
9. Wu Li-Chauan - TPE
10. Marta Wojtanowska - POL
11. Lyndsay Belisle - CAN
56 KG (14) JENNIFER RYZ (Burnaby Mountain W.C., Buranby, B.C.)
vs. Perchin Ugrun (TUR) Win by a fall, winning 5-0 at the time of the fall.
vs. Mabel Fonseca Ramirez (PUR) Won 5-3
vs. Yolianni Orellana (VEN) Won 8-0
vs. Seiko Yamamoto (JPN) Lost 3-2
vs. Selma Ferchichi (TUN) Won 4-0 for the BRONZE MEDAL
1. Seiko Yamamoto - JPN
2. Tatiana Lazareva - UKR
3. Jennifer Ryz - CAN
4. Selma Ferchichi - TUN
5. Mabel Fonseca Ramirez - PUR
6. Sara Eriksson - SWE
7. Yolianni Orellana - VEN
8. Minerva Montero - ESP
9. Constantina Tsimpanakou - GRE
10. Natalia Ivachiko - RUS
62 KG (17) TRISH LEIBEL (U of Calgary W.C., Calgary, AB)
vs. Lotta Anderson (SWE) Lost by injury default.
1. Nikola Hartmann - AUT
2. Rena Iwama - JPN
3. Stephanie Gross - GER
4. Bassa Malgorzata - POL
5. Diletta Giampiccolo - ITA
6. Lotta Andersson - SWE
7. Natalia Ivanova - RUS
8. Lene Aanes - NOR
9. Sara McMann - USA
10. Jiliana Selnichka - BUL
15. Trish Leibel - CAN
68 KG (13) SHANNON SAMLER (Buranby Mountian W.C., Buranby, B.C.)
vs. Bye
vs. Anna Schamova (RUS) Lost 6-2
vs. Anita Schatzle (GER) Won 16-4
1. Kristie Marano - USA
2. Anna Schamova - RUS
3. Tomoe Miyamoto - JPN
4. Guevara Xiomara - VEN
5. Lise Legrand - FRA
6. Shannon Samler - CAN
7. Galina Ivanova - BUL
8. Sha Ling-Li - TPE
9. Ewelina Pruszko - POL
10. Natasha Bodnaretz - UKR
75 KG (15) CHRISTINE NORDHAGEN (University of Calgary W.C., Calgary, Alberta)
vs. Wang Jo-Mei (TPE) Won by a fall, winning 6-0 at the time.
vs. Bye
vs. Ana Hernandez (VEN) Won 10-0
vs. Kyoko Hamaguchi (JPN) Won 9-4
vs. Edyta Witkowska (POL) Won 6-2 and claimed the GOLD MEDAL.
1. Christine Nordhagen - CAN
2. Edyta Witkowska - POL
3. Kyoko Hamaguchi - JPN
4. Katerina Halmova - CZE
5. Nina Englich - GER
6. Zoumroud Koarbangadjieva - RUS
7. Iris Smith - USA
8. Heidi Martti - FIN
9. Toleva Elisaveta - BUL
10. Wang Jo-Mei - TPE
There are 90 athletes representing 25 countries in attendance at the World Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria. Round #2 will take place later this afternoon.
Team Standings
1. Japan 48
2. Russia 34
3. Canada 31
4. Ukraine 27
5. USA 25
6. Germany 20
7. Poland 19
8. Sweden 18
9. France 13
10. Bulgaria 13