OLDS - Wrestler Danielle Lappage says the silver medal she won in the Commonwealth Games and the feeling she had participating in that event has spurred her to make a decision -- she will try for a berth in the 2020 Summer Olympics after all.
Lappage had been pondering that decision ever since she tore her left hamstring during warm-ups in the 2016 Summer Olympics. She had to bow out before even having a chance to compete there.
On April 13, during the Commonwealth Games in Australia, the Olds wrestler reached the gold medal match in the 68-kilogram class.
She faced Blessing Oborundu of Nigeria, a woman she had defeated on her way to eventually winning gold during the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
This time, the tables were turned.
Lappage, who had been leading 3-0 during the match, was taken down twice in 90 seconds and lost the match by just one point, resulting in a silver medal, instead of the coveted gold.
"It was just a second, but a second is enough to, I guess get out of your positioning," Lappage said during an interview with the Albertan. "I guess I was just in those moments focused on trying to keep my lead; worried about my fading energy, rather than focused on the task at hand."
Lappage describes that result as "disappointing."
"Not even because I lost, but because I didn't wrestle my best," she said. "I was winning most of the match and then I had a couple of seconds loss of focus, which cost me the match."
However, ironically, that experience gave her the confidence she needed to go after an Olympic berth.
"She (Oborundu) did very well at worlds last year so I know that I can compete with the best," Lappage said. "I know that if I just focus on my weaknesses and what I did wrong physically in that tournament, then I will be able to make this full comeback and be even more successful than I was prior to this injury."
As the Albertan reported earlier, Lappage is studying law at the same time as she's wrestling. She still has to write four exams which were postponed so she could compete in Australia. She notes once that's done, she'll be able to concentrate full-time on wrestling this summer.
And from there, on toward the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
"Being in the Games atmosphere was really exciting, it was really fun, and I definitely didn't lose any passion the last few months. If anything, my passion and my excitement for the sport has increased," Lappage said.
Lappage is now 27. By the time the Summer Olympics roll around, she'll be on the cusp of 30. But she doesn't think age will be a factor in making it.
She conceded she'll be facing people younger than her in various matches, but also noted that Erica Wiebe of Calgary, who won gold in Rio, has also committed to try to get back to the Olympics, and she's a year older than Lappage.
Lappage also noted that some of the women who medalled in Rio were in their 30s.
"So yeah, I don't think my age will negatively influence me at all," she said.
Meanwhile, Lappage is preparing for an event in June that will determine if she can qualify for various tournaments, including the world championships in October.
"I'll have to win this tournament to be funded and go to a lot of these tournaments that are happening through the summer," she said.
