Olga Butkevych (GBR) pinned her first and last opponents in the 2014 European Championships to take Bronze.

In the repechage, it took Olga just 18 seconds to triumph.  Olga overcame wrestlers from Roumania and Belarus.

Job done

Olga has had to take time out from Wrestling since her 2012 World Championship Bronze (59kg, Sept 2012, Canada) to earn a living.

Just two months after that 2012 World Championship Bronze, in their 2013-17 funding review, UK Sport chose not to fund her bid for a similar podium place in the 2016 Rio Olympics.

But with Wrestling fortunate to be a Commonwealth Sport, Olga and an English Wrestling team have received limited, but nonetheless vital funding from the National Lottery via Sport England and Commonwealth Games England to train for a podium place at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

In her opening match of today’s Vantaa European Championships, Finland, Olga pinned Georgiana Narcisa Filip of Roumania [2011 European Championships Silver medallist] in 1minute and 20 seconds.

Her England National Coach  applauds.
In her second match, Olga went on to lose narrowly, 14-15, against the eventual Silver medallist Hafize Sahin of Turkey, [2012 Junior World Championships Silver medallist].

With Hafize Sahin being a finalist, Olga entered the repechage to contest one of the two Bronze medals – against Nadeshda Mikhalkova of Belarus [2012 European Championships 5th placed].

Olga pinned Mikhalkova in just 18 seconds! In the FILA report’s words “Olga BUTKEVICH (GBR), 2012 world bronze medalist, ran over a takedown attempt by Nadezhda MIKHALOVA (BLR) and pressed for the fall only 18 seconds into the bronze medal final.”

Said Olga after her victory, “It’s been a tough journey what with loosing UK Sport funding, but thankfully the National Lottery, this time though Sport England and Commonwealth Games England, came to the rescue and funded my recent training to a limited extent and I am pleased to have demonstrated I can deliver. Now for Glasgow!”
“I am so glad for Olga” said British Wrestling Chief Executive Colin Nicholson.

“She had big decisions to make as to whether to try to come back without UK Sport funding.

“She pinned two of her opponents on her way to Bronze. Good luck to her in her quest for Gold at the Commonwealth Games.

“Then the even bigger decision on whether to take the road to Rio when she has demonstrated yet again that she has Olympic podium potential.”

• British Wrestling results page
• 2014 European Senior Championships results
• Georgiana Narcisa Filip record on FILA database
• Georgiana Narcisa Filip match video
• Hafize Sahin record on FILA database
• Hafize Sahin match video
• Nadeshda Mikhalkova record on FILA database
• Nadeshda Mikhalkova match video
• BBC On-Line Sports report
• FILA’s report of the day’s action