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Ana Godinez has always idolized her sister, Loopy. Growing up as two of four daughters in a Mexican immigrant family in Western Canada, their bond was unbreakable despite their age gap.
“I used to just copy everything she did,” Ana recently told . “Everything I did, I wanted to be like her. I looked up to her. She’s been a huge inspiration in my life – my whole life.”
Ana's journey into wrestling began unexpectedly. At a high school jiu-jitsu tournament where they were supporting Loopy, Ana's life took a new direction. Intrigued by the wrestling matches, Ana and her sister Karla decided to give it a try.
“We tried it, and we both fell in love with it and started taking it seriously after a couple months,” Ana recalls.
Initially passionate about rugby, Ana's wrestling talent soon caught the eye of her coaches, Frank Mensah, Jason Jahani, and Omid Farahani. One pivotal moment came when Jahani challenged her, saying, If you can get my leg, you can win the Olympics one day. When she succeeded, Jahani's confidence in her Olympic potential became a driving force. This year, Ana's hard work paid off as she qualified for the 2024 Olympics in Paris, ranking No. 7 in women’s 62kg freestyle wrestling. Her first match is set for August 9.
Despite the immense pressure of competing on the world's biggest stage, Ana remains grounded and realistic.
“It would mean so much to me to be the best on that day. I’ve been training to beat everyone in my weight on my worst day,” she said.
Her dedication to wrestling on her toughest days exemplifies her commitment to excellence. Looking beyond the Olympics, Ana is also considering a future in MMA, inspired by her sister Loopy’s success.
“I’ve definitely thought about it, and I’ve tried a little bit of it,” Ana says. “I think it would be foolish for me not to try because it’s so easily available to me with my sister. That’s definitely something I’m looking into doing after I’m done wrestling.”
Ana's ambition goes beyond personal accolades; she aims to elevate women’s wrestling in Canada.
“I feel like the more we win, the more it’ll get promoted,” she says.
Her hope is that wrestling will gain more recognition and opportunities for girls across the country, following the example set by the U.S . As Ana Godinez prepares for the Olympics and contemplates a future in MMA, her journey is a testament to her unwavering dedication, inspired by her sister, and her desire to leave a lasting legacy in Canadian women’s wrestling.
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