Former Dino Bouchard captures Commonwealth gold

Photo credit David Moll /Source: Ben Matchett, Calgary Sports Info

DELHI, India – Former University of Calgary Dinos wrestler Justine Bouchard was among three Canadian women to capture Commonwealth Games gold on the mat Thursday.

Wetaskiwin, Alta. native Bouchard captured the 63 kg gold medal, joining Carol Huynh (48 kg) and Ohenewa Akuffo (72 kg) atop the podium in Delhi, India.

WATCH VIDEO OF BOUCHARD'S GOLD MEDAL WIN (cbc.ca)

Bouchard was a five-time medalist at the CIS wrestling championships for the Dinos, winning the 63 kg class in 2006, 2007, and 2009 and helping the University of Calgary to team titles in 2007 and 2009. Her career continued to flourish from there, with a bronze medal at the World Championships in Denmark last year and now the Commonwealth gold.

"Her preparation over many years has been very good," said Dinos head coach Mitch Ostberg, "so it's not a surprise that she's capable of winning this event. She's been a strong performer internationally for Canada, and her dedication and preparation has shown in those performances."

Bouchard opened the competition by defeating Zumicke Geringer of South Africa with a fall in her quarterfinal bout. She was matched up with Kenya's Leah Wambui Ndungu in the semi-final, whom she defeated to move into the gold medal match against Blessing Oborududu of Nigeria.

In the final, Bouchard was again dominant in a 6-2 decision to capture the gold medal.

Bouchard will be a medal hopeful for Canada at the 2012 Olympic Games, and Ostberg said the Commonwealth result will be beneficial to her continued focus on London.

"It's another notch in her belt that builds confidence and makes her feel successful at the international level," he explained.

She graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Science degree in June 2010.

Bouchard's gold medal came as other Dinos athletes faced disappointment at the athletics stadium.

Sam Effah, the three-time defending CIS track athlete of the year and the reigning Canadian 100 metres champion, qualified for the final in the marquee event of the meet with a 10.14 clocking in the semi-final. A repeat of that result would have won him the silver medal, but Effah faded in the final 50 metres to finish a disappointing seventh in a time of 10.37 seconds.

The Dinos' Amonn Nelson competed in the 400-metre semi-final Thursday, where she finished sixth in a time of 53.33. Nelson did not advance to the final.

Another former Dino, 2007 BLG Award winner Jessica Zelinka, opens her Commonwealth Games competition Friday on Day 1 of the ladies' heptathlon competition. Zelinka finished fifth at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.