1. Early Life and Wrestling Beginnings
Erica Elizabeth Wiebe was born on June 13, 1989, in Stittsville, a suburban community in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. She pursued her higher education at the University of Calgary, where she continued to develop her wrestling skills. Wiebe's journey into wrestling began in Grade 9 when she encountered a sign advertising co-ed wrestling at her school, Sacred Heart High School, also located in Stittsville. This initial exposure sparked her interest and led her to embark on a career that would eventually see her reach the pinnacle of her sport.
2. Wrestling Career
Erica Wiebe's wrestling career is marked by a series of significant achievements and a consistent presence on the international competitive stage. She demonstrated remarkable dedication and skill throughout her professional life, securing multiple medals at major tournaments.
2.1. Early Career and Breakthroughs
Wiebe's early competitive experiences laid the groundwork for her future successes. As part of Canada's extended wrestling team for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, she served as a crucial training partner for fellow Canadian wrestler Leah Callahan. This experience provided valuable insight into the demands of elite-level competition.
In 2013, Wiebe earned her first major international medal, a bronze in the women's 72 kg freestyle weight class at the 2013 Summer Universiade in Kazan, Russia. The following year, 2014, proved to be an exceptionally successful season for her, as she achieved an impressive 36-match win streak, triumphing in every individual tournament she entered. This culminated in a gold medal victory in the 75 kg freestyle event at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. Her win was particularly emotional, as she reflected on her dream of hearing the Canadian anthem played for her at a major event. Building on this momentum, Wiebe continued her strong performance in 2015, securing another gold medal at the 2015 Summer Universiade and a gold medal in her weight class at the esteemed Golden Grand Prix Ivan Yarygin in Krasnoyarsk, Russia. Despite these successes, she was not selected to compete for Canada at the 2015 Pan American Games, which were held on home soil.
2.2. 2016 Rio Olympics
The summer of 2016 marked a pivotal moment in Wiebe's career as she was selected to represent Canada at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Competing in the women's 75 kg freestyle event, she delivered an exceptional performance that culminated in a gold medal.
In the final bout, Wiebe defeated Guzel Manyurova of Kazakhstan with a dominant 6-0 score. Following her Olympic victory, she expressed her profound joy, stating, "I love this sport and I never thought I'd be an Olympic champion, but today I had my best day. It's amazing." This gold medal was historically significant for Canadian wrestling. It represented the third gold medal ever won by Canada in Olympic wrestling, and only the second for a Canadian woman. Wiebe's achievement followed in the footsteps of Daniel Igali, who won gold at the 2000 Summer Olympics, and Carol Huynh, who secured the first women's gold for Canada at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
2.3. Post-Olympic Career and Later Achievements
Following her triumphant performance in Rio, Wiebe continued her wrestling career, participating in various international competitions and leagues. She joined the Indian Pro Wrestling League, where she served as the captain of the Mumbai Maharathi team. Her participation in the league was financially significant, with her salary reaching 4.30 M INR, which amounted to over 80.00 K CAD, making her one of the highest-paid wrestlers globally at the time. During the league's run from January 2 to 19, 2017, Wiebe maintained a perfect 3-0 record in her individual bouts with the Maharathi, although her team's overall record was 1-2.
Wiebe continued to achieve success at major events. At the 2018 Commonwealth Games held on the Gold Coast in Australia, she secured another gold medal, this time in the 76 kg freestyle category. Later that year, she earned a bronze medal in the 76 kg event at the 2018 World Wrestling Championships in Budapest, Hungary. In 2021, Wiebe continued her winning streak, claiming the gold medal in the 76 kg event at the Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series 2021 held in Rome, Italy. She also secured one of the bronze medals in her event at the 2021 Poland Open in Warsaw, Poland.
2.4. Retirement and Post-Athletic Career
In 2024, Erica Wiebe officially announced her retirement from competitive wrestling. Following her retirement, Wiebe transitioned into a significant role at the Canadian Olympic Committee, where she serves as the Manager of Athlete Relations, Safe Sport, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). In this capacity, she actively contributes to fostering a positive and inclusive environment for athletes. Additionally, Wiebe has lent her expertise as a broadcast commentator for wrestling events, including the 2023 Senior Asian Championships and the Senior World Championships, further demonstrating her continued dedication to the sport.
3. International matches
| 2018 World Bronze Medallist | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 17-4 | Epp Mäe (Estonia) | 4-0 | October 24, 2018 | 2018 World Championships | Budapest (Hungary) | |
| Loss | 16-4 | Adeline Gray (United States) | 1-3 | October 23, 2018 | |||
| Win | 16-3 | Aline Focken (Germany) | 6-4 | ||||
| Win | 15-3 | Paliha (China) | 3-0 | ||||
| 2018 Commonwealth Games champion | |||||||
| Win | 14-3 | Blessing Onyebuchi (Nigeria) | Fall | April 12, 2018 | 2018 Commonwealth Games | Gold Coast (Australia) | |
| Win | 13-3 | Georgina Nelthorpe (England) | Tech Fall (11-0) | ||||
| Win | 12-3 | Hajaratu Kamara (Sierra Leone) | Fall | ||||
| 2016 Olympic champion | |||||||
| Win | 11-3 | Guzel Manyurova (Kazakhstan) | 6-0 | August 18, 2016 | 2016 Summer Olympics | Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) | |
| Win | 10-3 | Vasilisa Marzaliuk (Belarus) | 3-0 | ||||
| Win | 9-3 | Zhang Fengliu (China) | 5-2 | ||||
| Win | 8-3 | Epp Mäe (Estonia) | 6-4 | ||||
| at 2014 World Championships | |||||||
| Loss | 7-3 | Epp Mäe (Estonia) | Fall | September 11, 2014 | 2014 World Championship | Tashkent (Uzbekistan) | |
| Win | 7-2 | Gulmaral Yerkebayeva (Kazakhstan) | 8-0 | ||||
| 2014 Commonwealth Games champion | |||||||
| Win | 6-2 | Annabelle Ali (Cameroon) | 4-2 | April 29, 2014 | 2014 Commonwealth Games | Glasgow (United Kingdom) | |
| Win | 5-2 | Jyoti (India) | 9-0 | ||||
| Win | 4-2 | Blessing Onyebuchi (Nigeria) | Tech Fall (10-0) | ||||
| Win | 3-2 | Sophie Edwards (England) | Tech Fall (10-0) | ||||
| at 2013 World Championships | |||||||
| Loss | 2-2 | Ochirbatyn Burmaa (Mongolia) | 3-5 | September 20, 2013 | 2013 World Championship | Budapest (Hungary) | |
| Loss | 2-1 | Natalia Vorobieva (Russia) | Fall | ||||
| Win | 2-0 | Jenny Fransson (Sweden) | Fall | ||||
| Win | 1-0 | Lisset Hechavarría (Cuba) | 7-0 | ||||
4. Awards and Honors
In recognition of her outstanding achievements and leadership, Erica Wiebe was selected as the flag-bearer for the closing ceremony of the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia. This honor underscored her status as a respected figure in Canadian sports.
5. Legacy and Influence
Erica Wiebe's legacy extends beyond her remarkable performance as an athlete. As an Olympic gold medalist and a two-time Commonwealth Games champion, she has significantly contributed to the profile of Canadian wrestling and served as an inspiring role model for aspiring athletes, particularly women, in the sport.
Her post-athletic career commitment to the Canadian Olympic Committee as Manager of Athlete Relations, Safe Sport, and DEI demonstrates her dedication to fostering a positive and equitable environment in sports. Through this role, Wiebe actively advocates for the well-being of athletes and promotes crucial discussions around diversity, equity, and inclusion, making a lasting impact on the broader sports community by working to create safer and more inclusive spaces for all. Her work as a broadcast commentator also allows her to continue contributing to the public's engagement with wrestling.