Canada-based Jamaican wrestler has sights set on LA 2028

CANADA-BASED JAMAICAN wrestler, 17-year-old Ezekiel Ivri, has his sights set on representing the country at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

According to Ivri, he is the only under-17 national wrestler and he is doing extremely well in Canada. He is ranked third in that country and is also a two-time provincial champion in Ontario.

“I love wrestling, as I am responsible for my own success. The work that I put in directly impacts the results that I get on the mat. I love training, and like working hard and testing myself against others,” said a passionate Ivri.

Ivri, the captain of his wrestling team in high school and a grade-12 final-year student, was introduced to the sport at a very young age.

“At five years old, I started in jiu jitsu at a jiu jitsu gym. And, when that business closed, there was an opportunity in our local newspaper to try out wrestling with our local team. We tried it and I loved it since my first practice. Ever since then, I have been wrestling five days of the week trying to get better and improve.”

The young athlete is currently training with a university in Canada, something he has been doing since the eighth grade.

Preparations for some major events recently took a turn for the worst for Ivri, as a knee injury caused a heartbreaking end to his season.

“I have a torn meniscus. The doctor said the surgery went well and he was able to stitch the outer meniscus, but it was a significant tear,” Ivri told The Gleaner. “My plan was to be back on the mat in six weeks after physiotherapy and to rehab my knee back to where it was. However, to ensure my knee heals properly, the doctor said I have to stay off the mats for a minimum of six months,” added Ivri.

A part of the recovery process is to keep his knee immobilised in a brace for two weeks and then do a follow-up appointment with the doctor.

After he starts physiotherapy, with his zeal to do his best, the hard-working wrestler’s first goal is to bounce back and be better than he was before his injury.

The upcoming tournaments Ivri will miss out on are 2025 OFSAA (Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations) Wrestling Championships in March, The Pan American Games and Beach Wrestling Tournament in Lima, Peru in July and, in August, the World Championships in Bulgaria and 2025 Canada Games.

Apart from wrestling, Ivri stated that he was highly involved in football but stopped in grade 10 to focus on his wrestling career.

The young wrestler has a great support system and he aims to create more history for Jamaica in the Olympics.

“I definitely would like to be on the Olympic stage in Los Angeles in 2028, representing Jamaica.

“That’s one of my biggest goals, and I think that I’m going to take all the steps that it needs to get there,” Ivri said.