A 13-year-old from Niverville, Manitoba, has reached the top of the podium at the 2026 Canadian Wrestling Championships. Ryan Unrau, a Grade 8 student who trains with WAMMA Niverville, captured the gold medal in the 85kg weight class at the U15 national event held in Grande Prairie, Alberta, from April 24 to April 26.
The championship, hosted at the Design Works Centre, featured more than 700 athletes from across the country. According to Wrestling Canada Lutte, Unrau stood out among his peers by defeating every opponent in his category to secure the title.
Unrau has been wrestling for five years, developing a competitive style that relies on aggressive leg attacks and technical throws, such as the double-leg takedown and hip toss. His mother, Sherry Unrau, noted that her son’s recent success is the result of a deliberate training strategy. Throughout the past year, the teenager has frequently competed against older high school athletes to sharpen his skills and build strength, a decision she credits with accelerating his development.
Following his national win, Unrau is already looking toward his next athletic challenge. As he prepares to enter high school next year, he plans to compete in his own age group and has expressed interest in trying out for Team Canada.
