Martine Dugrenier
The former gymnast who won three straight world titles
- Born
- June 12, 1979, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Nationality
Canada- Height
- 166 cm (5′5″)
- Weight
- 63 kg, 67 kg
- Active
- 2000–2012
- Status
- Retired · age 47
The medals
3 world titles and 6 straight world medals (2005–2010)
The story
artine Dugrenier was an artistic gymnast until a knee injury ended her hopes of a US university scholarship, and she found wrestling at Vanier College in Montreal because it was the only physical education class that fit her timetable. She wrestled for the Concordia Stingers, won the 2004 World University title and then put together six straight world championship medals: silver in 2005, 2006 and 2007 and gold at 67 kg in 2008, 2009 and 2010. In the 2010 final in Moscow she lost the first period to Kazakhstan's Yelena Shalygina, then won the next two 6-0 and 7-0. At the Olympics she had to drop to 63 kg and ran into Japan's Kaori Icho both times, finishing fifth in 2008 and 2012. An arm injury kept her off the mat, and she retired in 2015.
- World champion, 67 kg (2008, 2009, 2010)
- World silver medallist, 67 kg (2005, 2006, 2007)
- Pan American champion (2008)
- World University champion (2004)
- United World Wrestling Hall of Fame (2016)
- Concordia University Sports Hall of Fame (2019)
- Canadian Female Wrestler of the Year (2005)
Defining matches
- 2008WINvs Mami Shinkai (World final, Tokyo, 67 kg)
- 2008LOSSvs Kaori Icho (Beijing Olympic semifinal, 63 kg)
- 2009WINvs Yulia Bartnovskaya (World final, Herning)
- 2010WINvs Yelena Shalygina (World final, Moscow, 0-2, 6-0, 7-0)
- 2012LOSSvs Kaori Icho (London Olympic first round)
Dugrenier lost the first period of the 2010 world final, then won the next two 6-0 and 7-0 by adapting. Train the reset: after you give up an early score, change one thing, such as your tie-up, stance or attack side, rather than forcing the same attack harder.
