Concordian goes for gold at London Olympics
Concordia University’s David Tremblay is set to take his opponents to the mat at the 2012 summer Olympics in London. Tremblay, an undergraduate student in Concordia’s Department of Applied Human Sciences and a Stingers wrestler, is representing the university and Canada at the games in the 55-kg weight class. His first match is August 10.
Tremblay has over 12 years of victories under his belt from numerous competitions, such as the Canadian Interuniversity Sports Championship, the Canadian National Championship and the Pan-American Championships.
Watch this video report on Tremblay from David Adelman, a graduate of Concordia's Department of Journalism:
A natural-born athlete, Tremblay hails from the small Ontario town of Stoney Point. “I started wrestling because of my dad,” says Tremblay. “He was a high school wrestling coach and when I was a kid he would be bring me around to tournaments.”
Tremblay jumped into the ring the same year he started high school, 2002. “Wrestling is as much an individual sport as it is a team sport. Training to become a wrestler taught me to develop my individuality.”
Training since a very young age paid off for Tremblay in 2002, when he earned his first of many distinctions as a Cadet bronze medalist. By 2007, Tremblay was a Canadian junior national finalist. He reached international fame in 2010 when he placed second in his weight category at an international tournament in Sassari City, Italy.
However, Tremblay admits that to qualifying for the London Olympics was unlike any challenge he ever faced before. “The trials began last spring in 2011, when I had to win my first senior national title. That opened the door for me into the Olympic Trials, which began on December 2011. I had to wrestle the winner of the tournament, leading up to me competing in the finals.”
All this brought Tremblay to the Olympic qualifying event in Florida, the Pan-American Tournament — which he won. “This victory is what finally qualified me for the London Olympics.”
He’s aware that his success is partly the result of the solid backing he’s received along the way. “I had a lot of support from family, friends and peers. People always pushed me forward. I came to learn that if you work hard and train hard, all the success is yours,” Tremblay says.
Tremblay is being accompanied to London by his parents, sisters and brother, Noel.
Joining him on the Canadian wrestling team are alumna Martine Dugrenier (BSc 02, GrDip 08) and coach Victor Zilberman.
The younger Tremblay, also a Concordia undergraduate and Stingers wrestler, will be David’s training partner. “He’s been training with me basically since birth and he’s always been in my corner. He always knows exactly what to do to help encourage me — so I am pretty confident he is up to the challenge.”
Concordians should be sure to watch for David going for gold.
Related links:
• Team Tremblay
• Concordia Department of Recreation and Athletics
• Concordia Stingers
• Stingers Player Profile
• Wrestling Lutte Canada
• Concordia Olympians