INNISFIL — Sophie Melnyk may soon have a choke hold on the world stage.
The Innisfil teenager secured her spot on Team Canada at the Canadian Nationals Jiu Jitsu Championships in Brampton earlier this month. She won all her matches in the 63-kilogram and open weight classes of the ‘U18/U21 female gi blue and up’ category.
As a Canadian Nationals champ, she will move on to compete at the JJIF World Championship in Bangkok, Thailand in November.
“I’m endlessly proud of Sophie, not just for being a Canadian jiu-jitsu champion, but for the incredible young woman she is,” said her dad, Danny Melnyk. “Her strength, discipline and determination on the mats are matched by her kindness, humility and leadership off of them.
"She gives her all in everything she does, whether it’s training, school, or giving back to the community," he added. "She’s grounded, compassionate, fiercely loyal, and wise beyond her years. Watching her grow into such a powerful force with a heart of gold fills me with love and admiration every single day.”
She competes for Camisa Dez BJJ and her coach is Alvaro Hanser.
Back in May, Sophie also participated the Ontario Open International tournament in Markham, winning all matches and earning a provincial title in the ‘Juvenile girls gi blue -143.6 pounds’ category.
Sophie is a high-level multi-sport athlete, training in jiu-jitsu since the age of eight, and competing for the last two seasons on the Nantyr Shores Secondary School rugby team.
Last summer, she made it to the Pan Kids International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation Championship in Florida, where she won gold in the Teen 3 female orange 143.6-pound category.
But the Grade 10 student is also a powerhouse on the rugby field, where last season she was named her team’s player of the tournament, after Nantyr lost in the finals of the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) Rugby 7s championship.
Follow Sophie's journey through her Instagram page.