Olympic Gold Medalist on Training at WWE Performance Center

No one said it was easy. Back in 1999, Kurt Angle made his debut as the first (and to this date only) Olympic Gold Medalist in WWE history. Winning an Olympic medal is one of the hardest athletic accomplishments in the world and proves that you’re one of the best athletes on the planet. However, another might be considering stepping inside the squared circle.

In a new interview with the CBC, Olympic Gold Medalist discussed her recent tryout at the WWE Performance Center. Wiebe, who won gold for Canada in freestyle wrestling at the 2016 Summer Olympics, is likely to return to the 2020 Olympic Games but hasn’t ruled out a WWE run down the line. Here are some highlights:

On Her First Impressions of WWE at the Mae Young Classic Finals

That night, I witnessed what this new world of women’s wrestling is all about. I was transfixed as Kairi Sane flew from the top ropes and battled against former MMA star, Shayna Baszler, claiming victory at the inaugural Mae Young Classic. I watched Calgary’s own Natalya Neidhart — from the famed Hart family — defend her Smackdown women’s title. By the end of the night I knew I had to try this out for myself.

Here’s how Wiebe looked in the ring:

Olympic gold medal wrestler Erica Wiebe trains at the WWE Performance Center

On the Differences Between Amateur and Professional Wrestling

As we worked through various basic skills, I quickly realized that every instinct I had as a freestyle wrestler was counter to what was needed in this ring. As a freestyle wrestler, you need to be low, heavy with your hands, pummeling your opponent, wearing them down, and eventually twisting and torquing their body to your will (at least, that’s my usual modus operandi). In the world of professional wrestling (despite how it may appear on TV) every movement is carefully executed, as you work in sync with your partner’s movements. The intensity comes through your own actions rather than the actions you impose on others.

And on Potentially Working with WWE in the Future

As for the WWE, everyone there knows I’m committed to Tokyo but they have left the door open for me to try again after the Summer Games. Will it lead to a life in professional wrestling? Only time will answer that question.

You can read the full interview here:

http://www.cbc.ca/playersvoice/entry/erica-wiebe-gets-wrestling-education-wwe-style

Opinion: There’s something to be said about someone who has proven themselves to be the best in the world in an athletic field saying that professional wrestling is a lot harder than it looks. There is athleticism involved but it’s also a performance, which is the part a lot of people forget. Wiebe certainly seemed to understand this and that’s quite a good sign. It won’t be anytime soon, but I wouldn’t mind having her back in WWE ring again someday.

What do you think of Wiebe’s chances in WWE? Which mainstream athlete would you like to see try their hand at professional wrestling? Let us know in the comments below.