Michelle Fazzari

Biography

Michelle Fazzari won her first national title in 2012, two years after undergoing shoulder surgery for a torn labrum and being told she would be unable to compete at a high level again. Fazzari had made her international debut in 2006 when she competed at both the junior and senior Pan American Championships, winning silver and bronze, respectively. She made a triumphant return to the Pan Am Championships in 2014 when she captured the gold medal. Fazzari had earned her first international victory at the 2007 Commonwealth Championships. In 2007, 2008 and 2012 she won gold at the CIS Championships while representing Brock University and competed at the 2008 World University Championships. Fazzari has made three appearances at the UWW World Championships, cracking the top-10 in 2012, 2014 and 2015. She made her Pan Am Games debut at Toronto 2015, finishing seventh after undergoing knee surgery just three weeks earlier, which limited her range of motion. Her multi-sport competition experience also includes the 2013 Jeux de la Francophonie where she won gold. Among Fazzari’s 2015 successes are gold medals at the Nordhagen Classics and Bill Farrell Memorial, silver at the Klippan Lady Open and bronze at the Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix. She made her Olympic debut at Rio 2016.

Getting to Know…

Family: Parents Tony and Debbie Fazzari… Older brother Tom… Sister Stephanie… Says her family keeps her motivated and that accomplishing anything without their support would be next to impossible… Getting into the Sport: Started wrestling on a dare with friends in high school after seeing a flyer… Had previously been a competitive speed skater and missed doing a sport… Went to university thinking wrestling would be a way to stay fit but instead got serious about it… Outside Interests: Earned a Bachelor of Physical Education in 2010 and a Bachelor of Education in 2015 from Brock University… Has taught children on alternative pathways… Odds and Ends: Attended London 2012 as the training partner for three-time Olympic medallist Tonya Verbeek…