The Senior World Championships took place Zagreb, Croatia from Saturday September 13th to Sunday September 21st. The Senior World Championships is the pinnacle tournament for the wrestling season as the best of the best come to battle it out for World Championship supremacy. Quebec’s lone representative was Laurence Beauregard of the Montreal Wrestling Club NTC, competing at the 59 kg WW category. Accompanied by National Team regular, David Zilberman, Laurence would look to improve on her 5th place finished from last year, ranked with the third overall seed for the tournament.

Laurence’s first match would be in the round of 1/8 against Arian Geralin Carpio of the Philippines. Laurence would win that match comfortably by Technical Superiority (10-0) and would move on to the Quarter-final where she would face Behida Gun of Turkey.

Laurence vs. Arian Geralin Carpio (PHI) (Photo property of UWW)

This would be a tough match but Laurence would persevere, winning the match on Points (6-6) after falling behind in the beginning. With the win, Laurence would advance to the Semi-Finals where she would face Mariia Vynnyk of Ukraine.

Laurence vs. Behida Gun (TUR) (Photo property of UWW)

Laurence would start the match strong but would end up losing on Points (10-5) to the Ukrainian. Laurence would head directly to the Bronze Medal Final where she would face Othelie Annette Høeie of Norway the following day.

Laurence vs. Mariia Vynnyk (UKR) (Photo property of UWW)

The first period would be a tight one, with Laurence going down 1-0 on passivity. The second period would be a dynamic one as Laurence would lose another point by going out of bounds in an attempt to score. Laurence would not be rattled however as she would press on with her attacks. She would eventually secure a modified Chuck Yagla from that sequence, which she would then use to secure a pinning position. Laurence would be be tenacious, eventually securing a victory by Pin (4-2)!

Laurence is dialled in (Photo property of UWW)

Coach Dave Zilberman giving his instructions from the corner (Photo property of UWW)

Going for the pin (Photo property of UWW)

With the win, Laurence would win her first World Medal and Canada’s only medal for the tournament! Congratulations Laurence on this well deserved victory as all your hard work has paid off.

(Photo property of UWW)

Laurence is overcome by emotion (Photo property of UWW)

Bronze Medal winner at 59 kgs! (Photo property of UWW)