Hannah Taylor’s dreams became a reality today when she boarded a plane bound for the Olympic wrestling competition at the Paris Summer Olympics.

“I came from an Olympic family in the sense that we watched every Olympics that I can remember growing up and it was for all sports,” the 26-year-old Summerside, P.E.I., native said. “It didn’t really matter if it was the Summer Games or Winter Games or what sport it was, I was always watching it. My lifelong dream of being an Olympian started when I was four or five years old before I even knew what this sport was or what the work would entail to get here. I just knew I wanted to be an Olympian.”

Her fan entourage for Paris will number 15 including: her parents, Bonnie and Norman; her sister, Kaitlyn; three aunts; three cousins; an uncle; and, her two best friends from P.E.I.

“It is so incredible because it has been a lifelong dream and it is really cool that I get to bring my family to the Olympic Games, something they have been watching their entire lives. That I am the vehicle that allows them to watch it live is so awesome and it also feels great knowing they are excited about the process too.”

Like all high-performance athletes, the Brock Wrestling Club member needed mom and dad to help her reach the highest levels of her chosen sport.

“My parents are the most supportive individuals that I have ever met in my entire life. I was blessed to have them growing up, having them push me to where I am today and also being there to support me on days when I didn’t just want to be the wrestler Hannah Taylor. I wanted to be other things in life and they supported me the entire journey.”

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