History and mission · Since 1970

The Federation
in 2026

Founded in 1970 and recognized by Wrestling Canada, FLOQ oversees competitive and recreational Olympic wrestling in Quebec — from high-school initiation to international podiums.

The Quebec Olympic Wrestling Federation (FLOQ, also known as Fédération de Lutte Olympique du Québec) is the provincial governing body recognized by Quebec’s Ministry of Education and by Wrestling Canada for the oversight of Olympic-style wrestling throughout the province.

Mission

FLOQ’s mission rests on four pillars:

  1. Development — broaden access to Olympic wrestling among young athletes, particularly through sport-study programs and school leagues.
  2. Training — train and certify coaches under the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) and provide continuing education for officials.
  3. Competition — sanction provincial tournaments, organize the annual provincial championship, and select Quebec teams for national events.
  4. Excellence — support high-performance athletes targeting the Canadian national team, the Pan-American Games, the Commonwealth Games, and the Olympics.

History

The federation was founded in 1970, amid the broader surge of Quebec sport organizing that preceded the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games. Early presidents built the provincial competitive structure and set affiliation terms for the existing clubs — principally the Montreal YMHA, the Palestre nationale, and the Concordia and McGill university programs.

Over the decades the federation has produced notable careers: Doug Yeats, four-time Olympian born in Montreal; David Zilberman, Beijing 2008 Olympian; Martine Dugrenier, three-time women’s wrestling world champion; his daughter Dorothy Yeats, Rio 2016 Olympian; and most recently Alex Moore, quarterfinalist at Paris 2024.

Structure

FLOQ is governed by a volunteer board of directors elected by affiliated clubs at an annual general meeting. A permanent executive director coordinates operations with technical staff (development officer, competitions coordinator, communications officer).

Standing commissions cover:

  • the technical commission (rules, officiating)
  • the coaching commission (NCCP, continuing education)
  • the athletes’ commission (competitor voice)
  • the women’s commission (development of women’s wrestling and equity)

Affiliations

FLOQ is a full member of Wrestling Canada Lutte, the national body recognized by Sport Canada, and complies with the rules of United World Wrestling (UWW), the international federation. It is also a member of Sports-Québec and a partner of the Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ).

F.A.Q.

Frequently asked questions

What is FLOQ's mandate? +
Overseeing safe practice of freestyle, Greco-Roman and women's wrestling; training coaches; sanctioning provincial competitions; selecting the delegations that represent Quebec at Canadian championships.
How does a club become affiliated with FLOQ? +
A club submits an annual affiliation request with its list of NCCP-certified coaches and members, and complies with ethics and safety policies. Affiliation grants access to sanctioned competitions and provincial grant programs.
Does FLOQ organize its own competitions? +
Yes. Each season features around ten provincial tournaments, a provincial championship (all categories), selection camps, and qualifiers for Canadian championships. The calendar is published in the fall.
What age categories are recognized? +
U9, U11, U13, U15, U17, U19 (Junior), U23, and Senior. The Masters category is open to wrestlers 35 and older. Paralympic categories (adapted wrestling) have been in development since 2022.
How can I support FLOQ or make a donation? +
FLOQ is a non-profit organization. Donations and sponsorships directly fund the scholarship program (including the George St-Pierre fund) and coach development. Contact us by email for details.