June 21, 2004

After being pinned to the mat, Viola Yanik's snarl was undeniable.

But in those narrowed, angry eyes, coach Todd Hinds saw a twinkle -- a metallic one, perhaps, as Yanik takes the final strides toward the Athens Olympics.

"This match really showed that she's a true contender for an Olympic medal," Hinds said Sunday from Atlanta, where Yanik competed in the Titan Games.

The Canadian team, including Saskatoon's Yanik, was scheduled to wrestle China. But China's withdrawal set up a North American showdown between Canada and the United States.

In a tough scrap with American Sara McMann, the world silver medallist, Yanik was pinned late in the second round of their 63-kilogram match.

"She was annoyed as she walked off the mat," said Hinds, "but there was a little bit of a different look, meaning that 'I belong there.' When they marshalled us out of there, I put my hands on her shoulders and said, 'You know it, too -- that you should feel good about this and we've got time to correct some things.' "

Yanik scored the first point of the match, but McMann came back with two points before half-time. The Saskatonian threatened to take the lead in the second round when she gained position on McMann's legs, but the grapple came to a stalemate and the match was stopped and restarted.

"You're never satisfied with a loss, or being pinned, but the first round was fantastic," said Hinds. "This dual meet was to prepare for Olympics and Viola is doing all of the right things.

"There's some fine-tuning that we need to do and work on some areas, but right now we're doing the right things and we're seeing the result in her performances."

Last weekend, Yanik captured bronze at the Austrian Open in Gotzis, Austria. She beat four-time world champion Nikola Hartmann 4-0 in the medal match.

Yanik and Hinds, who's also from Saskatoon, head to the Canada Cup, July 9-10 in Guelph, Ont. That international tournament will be followed by a week-long training camp for the national team.

They depart for Athens on Aug. 10.

"The time is going to strike pretty soon," said Hinds.

© The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) 2004