Igali throws his hat into political ring

February 10 2005

VANCOUVER - Canadian Olympic gold medal winner Daniel Igali is seeking a Liberal nomination in May's provincial election.
Premier Gordon Campbell was on hand Thursday as the 31-year-old Igali announced he is running in the riding of Surrey-Newton, where he lives.
The former Olympian hopes to replace Liberal MLA Tony Bhullar who is moving over to the nearby Surrey-Panorama Ridge riding, where the NDP's Jagrup Brar won by a landslide in a recent byelection.
If Igali wins the nomination, he will be up against against well-known union leader Harry Baines who is running for the NDP.
Igali says he feels grateful to be in Canada and he wants to help his fellow British Columbians.
Igali wrestled his way into the hearts of Canadians in 2000 when he won gold in the 69-kg division at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Daniel Igali makes the jump to politics He was responsible for one of the lasting images of those Games when he gently draped the Canadian flag on the mat after his victory, fell to his knees and kissed it.
Igali's win marked the first gold medal in wrestling for Canada and he was rewarded for his accomplishment when he was chosen to carry the flag in the closing ceremony.
His gold-medal victory also earned him superstar status in Canada, as he was named the 2000 Lou Marsh Award winner as the Canadian Athlete of the Year.
Igali suffered numerous injuries following his memorable gold-medal win, including a herniated disc in his neck that required surgery in 2003. He couldn't repeat his golden feat at the 2004 Athens Games, eliminated in the quarter-finals in the 74-kg division.
Igali first came to Canada when he represented Nigeria at the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria, and stayed in the country after claiming refugee status.