Community proud of Lappage

At the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Danielle Lappage approached the mat the same way she always has since high school, with punishing double low-fives for her coach and her game face on.

Her first match came against Ukraine's Yulia Tkach, the world's No. 1-ranked wrestler in 63 kilogram women's freestyle. Tkach took her to the mat for a quick score 40 seconds in.

And that was it. Lappage retired from the match and thus the Olympic tournament due to injury – later revealed to be a hamstring tear suffered near the end of her warm-up beforehand.

Later on Aug. 18, she posted a message to friends, family and people in Olds via Facebook. She has not yet spoken to news media.

"I am so unbelievably heartbroken. I am so sorry that I did not get to compete today, and that you all could not watch and see the wrestler I worked so hard to become," Lappage wrote.

"Thank you all for your support and love throughout this roller coaster ride! I am still so amazed by all the wonderful people I have in my life."

Olds High School's wrestling coach George Grant was one of those people who flew to Rio. Even if it was for just a short while, seeing one of his own former athletes in Lappage, at the Olympics, was enough to give him goosebumps.

"It was amazing. It was cool because the air conditioning was on, but it became super-cool … seeing that grit and determination still in her face, not knowing that at this time she's injured," Grant said.

While consoling Lappage afterward, Grant encouraged her not to make a decision yet on whether to keep wrestling with an eye on the 2020 Tokyo Games, or retire.

At 25 years old, Lappage is still in her prime as a wrestler. As an example of how long a career in wrestling can last, teammate Erica Wiebe's opponent in the 75-kilogram gold medal match was a 38-year-old from Kazakhstan. The silver medalist from Japan in the 53-kilogram class was 33.

But it is a matter of putting life on hold for another four years. Amateur athletics is a subsistence occupation

"She's a fighter. She is the most determined individual I think I've ever met. I think she's going to need some time to think it over," Grant said.

Just after the break of dawn in Olds, the Mayfair Cinema is full for the viewing party. Lorrie Jantzie and Gloria Ulry, members of Lappage's extended family are lingering outside the front doors after the match and say they're proud of their niece regardless.

With phone in hand, Jantzie, who lives in Lacombe, is in the middle of writing a Facebook message telling Lappage she's a winner. "We don't care. She did great to get there," she said.

Ted Charbonneau of Tedd's Food Mart was also in attendance, serving food. Lappage was a "longtime, trusted and valued employee" for his store for five years. The two still catch up during the odd lunch, he said.

"I would have told her how proud I am of her and she should be very proud of her own achievements. There are some things in life that are just beyond our control, that we have to accept -- not to be deterred," Charbonneau said.

By the end of the day, $1,267 in donations and food sales were collected at the theatre to establish a wrestling award at Olds High School in Lappage's name. As well, with the promo code "Rio," O-NET is contributing $50 for every subscription until Aug. 31.

Grant found out about those developments after leaving for Brazil. He said he was humbled and also surprised at how the community has chosen to honour the wrestler's achievements.

In his time at Olds High School, he's found that Olds' attention has mostly been on hockey. Not so, anymore.

"I really think this has changed the town, that we're not just a one-activity town, that we're not the minor leagues," Grant said. "We do have people who've made something of themselves through hard work, complete dedication. I think that has rubbed off on a lot of people."

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