Olympic post mortem: Hannah Taylor
Brock Wrestling Club member Hannah Taylor made it to the bronze medal match at the Paris Olympics. Photo by CANDICE WARD.
Brock Wrestling Club member Hannah Taylor returned from the Paris Summer Olympics as the fifth-ranked women’s freestyle wrestler in the world in the 57-kilogram division.
The 26-year-old P.E.I. native opened the Olympic tournament with a 6-1 loss to top-ranked Tsugumi Sakurai of Japan, a three-time world champion. Because Sakurai advanced to the gold medal match, she was given a second chance in the repechage and didn’t disappoint. A 13-0 victory over eighth-ranked Ecuadorian Luisa Valverde advanced her to the bronze medal match where she was pinned by second-ranked American Helen Maroulis, a former Olympic gold and bronze medalist.
In her first Olympic appearance, Taylor learned it’s more about the entire journey and process rather than what happens on an individual day.
“There were so many people going into that tournament who were favoured to win and did not perform,” the eight-time national champion said. “Then you have someone like me who was unranked and made it to a medal match. It is more so on that day if you are the best and at your best that is great. If not, it doesn’t take away from everything that you have achieved in the sport.”
The former under-23 world bronze medalist was pleased with her showing in Paris.
“Absolutely. I think I had a great performance in the first two matches even though I was unsuccessful in my first match. I had a dominant performance in my second match and overall the entire Games was great for me,” she said. “It was unfortunate how my competition ended and it left a little sour taste in my mouth as it was rather quick but overall it was incredible to try and bring home a medal for my country.”
After she exited the mat after losing to Maroulis, Taylor could be heard saying ‘So stupid.’
She agreed that was her prevailing sentiment after the match.
“It was technically and tactically just a lack of focus. It was not my best self out there. The minute she hit me I should have reacted. It is something that I did not do and it is why the match ended so quickly. She went out there guns a blazing and taking that one fireman’s carry move. We knew it was coming, we knew that’s what she does and it was stupid of me to still not be able to stop it.”
It was a move she knew how to stop but she didn’t react in time.
“She hit it very quick and she also did a sneaky attack from it. It wasn’t a traditional move and I honestly don’t know what it was. I am still processing that,” she said. “I wasn’t blinded by the lights. I wasn’t in shock on competing on the biggest stage. I felt great and the minute I grabbed her I felt stronger than her. I felt prepared and technically I knew what she would do and I am still not sure what went down.”
Her most memorable moment came in her opening match against Sakurai.
“After the first period, I came into the corner and it really sunk in at that moment that I was wrestling at the Olympic Games. I was losing 3-1 at that point against the No. 1 wrestler in the entire world from Japan and I had Marty Calder and Dave Collie, my two coaches in my corner, saying ‘Great round. Keep it up’ and giving me some advice,” Taylor said. “At that moment. I realized I was at the Olympics wrestling the No. 1 girl in the world, I’m doing well and my coaches are here with me.”
From her Olympic experience, she learned how to wrestle freely.
“Walking in there, I knew I had one chance to wrestle. You are only guaranteed one match at the Olympics and if you lose, the only way you are able to get another match is if that individual makes it to the final. When I stepped out on that mat, I was ‘I don’t care who is in front of me. I’ve got to make sure when I walk off the mat I am proud.’ I think I did that. It was a great learning experience for me, I had so much fun out there and I wrestled freely with no conditions attached, no stress and no fear of failure. It was me trying to do my best and if I did, great. If not, also great.”
Her performance has provided a huge boost of motivation.
“I am now ranked top five in the world in an incredibly hard weight class. I feel great about that and it gives me momentum moving forward.”
The next step in her ending up on an Olympic podium is to keep building.
“I work every single day with the best coaches in the world and some of the best training partners I could ever ask for. I have to take every day as it comes and continue to get better.”
After the Olympics, Taylor headed to Portugal for a family vacation and then returned to her home province of Prince Edward Island for some-well deserved R and R, including eating at her favourite restaurants, reconnecting with friends and family, and enjoying some time on the island’s many beaches.
“I’m just being a normal non-athlete right now,” she said. “It has been a long road to the Olympics and it is nice to come home and not have anything hanging over my head, not worrying about the next time I have to compete, weigh-in or be in prime shape.”
