Christine Nordhagen, a University of Alberta graduate, embarked on her wrestling journey at the age of 20, ultimately leaving an indelible mark on the sport. Her illustrious career boasts an impressive collection of six world championship gold medals, with victories spanning from 1994 to 2001. In Sofia, Bulgaria, she clinched titles in both the 70 kg freestyle category (1994, 1996), followed by 75 kg (2000) and 68 kg (2001). Further triumphs arrived in Clermont-Ferrand, France (1997), and Poznań, Poland (1998), both in the 68 kg class. Complementing her gold haul, Nordhagen secured a silver medal in Stavern, Norway (1993), and a bronze in Boden, Sweden (1999), both at 70 kg.

Her Olympic journey saw her finish 5th in the 72 kg women's freestyle event at the 2004 Athens Games. Remarkably, Nordhagen's legacy transcends medals. She played an instrumental role in the growth of women's wrestling in Canada, witnessing its meteoric rise from less than 150 registered participants in 1993 to over 4,000 by the time of her retirement. Her advocacy contributed to women's wrestling's inclusion in the Olympics for the first time in Athens 2004, solidifying her status as a pioneer and a legend in the sport.