Erica Wiebe's Commonwealth Games journey comes full circle at Glasgow 2026

Erica Wiebe’s first taste of the Commonwealth Games experience came back in 2014 in Glasgow. Now, 12 years later, the two-time Commonwealth wrestling gold medallist is back at the Games in the Scottish city, but in a much different role: chef de mission for Canada’s team.

CBC Sports spoke with the 2016 Olympic champion from Stittsville, Ont., native who now resides in Calgary, about the past, present, and future of the Commonwealth Games.

CBC Sports: You've moved from competing at the Commonwealth Games to a different kind of role for Team Canada. For any Canadian sports fans new to the concept, how would you explain what a chef de mission does? 

Erica Wiebe: Ooh, I'm still trying to figure that out (laughs). But, in summary, a chef is the number one supporter for Team Canada – they're the face of Team Canada. They help to support the athletes, cheer on the team, but then also kind of deflect and navigate any issues so that athletes can just focus on performing their best.

CBC: Your commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in sport was mentioned as one of the chief reasons you were selected as chef de mission. With diversity being a hallmark of the Commonwealth Games, did taking on this role seem like a natural fit for you?

EW: I mean, yeah, I think that sport is this field of play that everyone can come on and enjoy and be part of. So, creating the conditions for that to happen is so important for me.

When I think about the Commonwealth Games, it's an integrated multi-sport Games. In Glasgow, we will have the largest Para sport program ever in history, and we'll have 35 Para athletes representing Team Canada – we're really excited about that.

When you think about the 74 nations that make up the