Samler has golden future

Jun 13, 2002, vol. 24, no. 4
By Marianne Meadahl

Wrestler Shannon Samler, with the gold medal she earned after topping her 67 kg category at the Canadian National Club championships this spring.

If wrestler Shannon Samler can stay on top of her sport when she hits the books at medical school this fall, Olympic gold could be in her future.

The kinesiology major graduates from SFU after topping her 67kg category at this spring's Canadian National Club finals. Samler, a 12-year veteran of the sport, won without surrendering a single point.

Recently accepted into UBC's medical school, she'll spend the summer training for the world championships to be held in Greece in November. “I'm not sure how I will juggle things once school starts,” concedes Samler. “I'll give it my best shot.”

If Samler can continue winning on the mat she has a chance at competing in women's wrestling at the 2004 Olympics. Women will compete in the sport for the first time during those games.

Samler was attracted to the sport in high school. She recalls how her first B.C. high school finals drew only a handful of female competitors. There are now about 200 girls competing.

Samler also participates in wrestling camps designed to attract young girls to the sport. “It's a great sport because it's just you out there,” says Samler

Women have been part of the SFU wrestling team since 1994. The SFU team currently has five women wrestlers while the Burnaby Mountain wrestling club, also housed at SFU, has a dozen female members.