2006-03-23

World Champion Christine Nordhagen Announces Her Official Retirement From Competition

After winning 6 World Championship gold medals and eight total world medals Christine Nordhagen has officially announced her retirement from Competition.

(Christine's comments about retiring and women's wrestling)

"I have taken enough time since Athens to think about this. Being an athlete is something I have truly loved. I will miss competing for my country but I am ready to move onto other challenges in my life. At the start of my wrestling career I could not have imagined it would have turned out so amazing. I leave the sport with so many great memories, and friends. I want to thank all my teammates, training partners and coaches. I also want to thank my family and friends for there support of my goals.

I know that I am stepping off of the national team at the right time. I am really excited for the future of Women's Wrestling in Canada. There are many great athletes on our national team, and coming up through the ranks right now. I am sure it is only a short matter of time before Canada has another women standing on top of the podium at the World Championships or Olympic Games.


Watching the recent Winter Olympic Games it is thrilling for me to see the state of sport for Women in Canada. It is great to know that a young girl can choose to pursue excellence as an athlete in so many ways, including wrestling. Things have changed so much over the last two decades. It is great to see that the kids of today have men and women as their sport heroes."

(Christine's comments on what the future holds for her)

"I am done competing but I am definitely not done with wrestling. I hope to help others to achieve the goals they have set on and off of the mat. I am excited to be included as an apprentice national level coach sponsored by the Canadian Coaching Association. In Calgary we are organizing the First Annual Nordhagen Junior Classic Wrestling Tournament this coming January. With some work we can make this into a premier international tournament and training camp for the junior aged women wrestlers in Canada. I am also doing a bunch of public speaking right now, to school and corporate groups.

Being an athlete has had such a positive impact on my life, I feel very fortunate to be able to share my experiences with others. I appreciate every opportunity wrestling has given me. I knew this day would eventually come, and gladly, I know my retirement from competition is something I am ready for."

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