"As what was my favourite part of wrestling, it was definitely the people people that are still here and people that are not.
Jillian Gallays (right) competes in an Olympic qualifier match ahead of the 2016 Games. Photo by Photo submitted by Jillian Galla /Saskatoon Former Olympic wrestler Jillian Gallays has had her share of wins, but some of her biggest losses came away from the mat.
Gallays who is on the list of 2025 inductees to the Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame this fall couldnt help but single out some of those heart-felt losses from the wrestling community when she was asked about her career.
I think about that a lot, the former University of Saskatchewan Huskie star was saying this week. Just the community and the people the people that Ive lost, like Natasha (Fox, nee Kramble), Todd Hinds and Michelle Fazzari (who have all passed away).
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They were a very huge part of my wrestling journey. Im just really grateful to have had them in my life & and its still hard. Today is a different day, but to be part of a community that just wants you to succeed to whatever level that youre at (was a highlight).
The 2025 Hall of Fame class also includes: Don Hedman (builder, track and field); Peter Loubardias (builder, media); Mark Millard (builder, soccer); Janet (Scott) Gattinger (athlete, track and field); Ryan Hvidston (athlete, track and field); Marcia (Porteous) Jackson (athlete, badminton/squash/tennis); Larry Pavloff (athlete, softball); Hunters Fairhaven bowling teams (1998-2000); the Sherry Anderson curling team and the Saskatoon Diving Club (sports organization of the year).
Bronze at worlds, Commonwealth Games
With the Huskies, Gallays captured Canada West conference and U Sports national titles. Internationally, she competed in world championships, Commonwealth Games, World University Games and the 2016 Olympics in Rio. She won bronze medals at both the 2014 Commonwealth Games and world championships.
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She captured top spot at the Pan-American Olympic qualifier in 2016.
Originally from St. Brieux, Gallays was a 10-year member of Canadas national wrestling squad and joined Gord Garvie, Bob Molle and Viola Yanik as the only wrestlers from Saskatoon to compete in the Olympic Games.
Todd always told everyone to be balanced and I try to build that into my life now, try to find balance, offers Gallays, who attended high school at Saskatoons Aden Bowman. Its nice to have that as something to reflect on. As what was my favourite part of wrestling, it was definitely the people people that are still here and people that are not.
Another highlight was the globe-trotting part of competing internationally the unexpected experience of being a traveller, and just being able to explore and see the world, she adds.
Ive been to over 40 countries. Ive been to almost every continent. Its such a cool experience, and something I never would have thought I would have had an opportunity to do, so its like a huge highlight.
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Gallays says the first time she realized she might be able to go to the Olympics was in 2012, at the trials, when she lost to three-time Olympic medalist Tonya Verbeek.
I was really close, she recalls. I actually got a couple of points on her and was scoring, and I was like, hey, I can actually do this. After 2012, thats when my mind shifted to yeah, this is actually something that Im really good at.
Good and, as it turns out, worthy of the Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame.
Now, at age 38, she works as a personal trainer and shes also back in school, taking her masters of management and analytics through Queens University, as part of the Game Plan scholarship program for high-performance athletes.
Its incredible, says Gallays, who has a son who will turn four in August with husband, former pole vaulter Scott McCubbing.
(Scott) is actually in the Hall of Fame (as part of the Huskies track and field team), as well. I finally get to join him.
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