Even though they both just won gold medals at the women's wrestling Pan-American Championships in Mexico, South Surrey sisters Ana and Karla Godinez Gonzalez haven't stopped training.
The Earl Marriott Secondary graduates are back at home again, but only for a couple weeks before they travel to Edmonton, Alta. for the Canadian Wrestling Championships, which are set to start this Thursday (May 29) through May 31.
With their focus on the upcoming women's world wrestling championships in Croatia this September, both sisters must first win at the upcoming nationals in order to qualify for that event.
Ana represented Canada at the Paris Games last summer, where she barely missed the podium, finishing fifth. She is a former U23 world champion and two-time gold medallist at the Senior Pan-Ams. She competes in the 62-kilogram weight class, while Karla competes in the 55-kg category.
Both sisters, who train at Bunaby Mountain Wrestling Club and at Coast Wrestling Club, always have each other's backs, and enjoy when they can compete in the same event, as they just did at the Pan-Ams.
Although they're in different weight classes, they train together, and sometimes, their other sister Lupita "Loopy" Godinez, a professional mixed martial artist who competes in the UFC, will also train with them.
"For the wrestling," Ana clarified in a video interview.
They remain close with their entire family, which includes a fourth sister and her children, and enjoy going for family walks when they're not training or competing.
Eating a high-protein, healthy diet comes naturally for them.
"We eat really clean in our home — with our whole family — so we’re just all used to it, anyway," Ana said. "I don’t really have to cut weight, I just eat pretty much as much as I can to stay fuelled ... it’s all healthy, but I eat a lot."
When Karla competes in the 55 kg class, she doesn't have to worry about cutting weight, but when she was competing in the lead-up to last summer's Olympics, she had to make 53 kg, as the Olympics only has 53 kg or 57 kg categories.
"For the 55 kg weight class it’s easy for me to keep fuelling myself properly without having to diet to the extreme," Karla said.
"When I had to make 53 for the Olympics last year, it was a very, very restrictive diet. I’d say 55 kg is more natural, so that’s why I prioritize 55 kg when it’s not for the Olympics."
The pair train four to five times a week, lift weights at least three times a week, and do conditioning at least twice a week — every week.
"We have nationals coming up, so no rest for now," Ana shared.
In Edmonton this week, three age groups of competitors — more than 600 athletes in total — will grapple for the title of national champion and a spot on one of Canada’s national teams, a Wrestling Canada Lutte release noted.
“We are absolutely thrilled to be returning to Edmonton for the upcoming Canadian Wrestling Championships,” said Tamara Medwidsky, Wrestling Canada Lutte CEO, in the release.
“Edmonton has always been a passionate and supportive wrestling community, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to once again showcase the best of Canadian wrestling in such a vibrant city. This event plays a critical role by determining our national champions and selecting members of Canada’s national teams — athletes who will go on to represent our country on the international stage. It’s an exciting event for our sport, and we can’t wait to witness the incredible talent and determination that define Canadian wrestling.”
