Jayk Lessard was feeling confident heading into his gold medal-wrestling match Saturday in the Ontario Summer Games.
Competing in the 115 kg category representing southwestern Ontario, the 16-year-old Dresden resident had dominated his competition.
Twelve seconds into the match against Cole McGee of eastern Ontario, the two competitors landed on Lessard’s right arm, breaking it in two places.
“I knew something was wrong right away,” Lessard said. “There was a lot of pain.”
The match was immediately ended and shortly after Lessard was on his way to hospital in Mississauga for the official diagnosis.
“I’ll be in a cast for the next six weeks,” said Lessard who is entering Grade 11 at Ursuline College.
Lessard, who’s only been wrestling for two years, individually earned a silver medal but he’s also proud that his point total helped his team earn an overall bronze.
Heading into the final, Lessard had won each one of his matches in decisive fashion, pinning his opponents each time in less than one minute.
Matches can take up to a pair of two-minute rounds to complete, although wrestlers who accumulate 10 points automatically win at that point.
He plans to take the fall and winter off to heal and train but plans to resume the sport in the spring.
“I’m really happy that I competed and the way I was going I think I could have won,” he said. “It was just an awkward way that we went over.”
Despite the pain, he said, “I’d do it again, if I could.”
