Windsor's Tremblay qualifies for Olympics

A local wrestler has done his father proud. Now, he hopes to do the same for his country.

David Tremblay qualified Saturday for the 2012 London Olympic Games. He won the 55kg (121 pounds) freestyle division.

His father was in the stands watching the FILA Pan American Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Kissimmee, Fla. He was also Tremblay's high school coach at L'Essor in Tecumseh.

"Obviously he has a big impact on my wrestling career," said Tremblay, who is from Stoney Point.

Tremblay said 15 friends and family members made the trip to Florida. He said many of them wept when he qualified.

"I was the only one that had a cheering section," Tremblay said. "I could definitely hear them. It made the situation ideal."

Tremblay made the best of a first-round bye and the absence of top contender Frank Chamizo Marquez of Cuba. Marquez vanished before the tournament even started.

"I didn’t know if I’d win or not, but I wanted to make it to the finals and at least qualify [for the Olympics]," Tremblay said.

The reigning Canadian university champion, who attends Concordia University in Montreal, said it's been a long road to London.

"Four years ago, we didn’t think I was ready for the Games. Four years later, I’m 24 and mentally I know I have to do everything I can to make this possible," he said. " That’s how I want to view it -- as a last chance."

Tremblay will spend the remainder of the spring and summer travelling across Canada and Europe, preparing for the Games.

"My goal now is not to simply be just a competitor. I want to be a contender. That’s what I’m going to be pushing for ... to get a medal for Canada," Tremblay said. "Getting on the podium would be just amazing."