Wrestling great Huynh appointed assistant Canadian Chef de Mission at Rio 2016

Carol Huynh has been appointed deputy Chef de Mission for the Canadian team at Rio 2016 ©UWW

Two-time Olympic wrestling medallist Carol Huynh has been named assistant Chef de Mission for the Canadian team at Rio 2016, it has been announced.

Huynh, the daughter of two Vietnamese refugees who came to Canada in the 1970s to settle in the northern town of Hazeltonm, made history with Canada's first female wrestling Olympic gold in the under 48 kilograms category at Beijing 2008 before taking bronze four years later in London.

She also won 11 Canadian titles and two Pan American Games golds before announcing her retirement after London 2012.

The 35-year-old will serve alongside Chef de Mission ,Jean-Luc Brassard, the moguls skiing Olympic champion at Lillehammer 1994, it was announced at an Olympic Excellence Series event in Toronto attended by various Canadian medal hopefuls.

"My Olympic experience has largely defined my life and I’m excited to accompany other athletes along their journeys," Huynh said.

"I have been given an extraordinary opportunity to give back to sport, the Olympic Movement and the country.

"I’m entirely committed to make the best of that opportunity.

"I thank everyone involved for trusting me with this role, I’m eager to get to work."

Carol Huynh pictured celebrating a victory at the London 2012 Olympic Games ©Getty Images

Since her retirement, Huynh has become head coach at Calgary’s Junior Dinos Wrestling Club, assistant coach at the Dinos Wrestling Club, and next generation coach at the Canadian Sport Centre, also in Calgary.

In 2013, she helped wrestling's successful presentation to be returned to the Olympic programme at the International Olympic Committee Session in Buenos Aires.

"I’m so happy Carol accepted to join the team as assistant Chef de Mission," added Brassard.

"She has exhibited passion, class and extraordinary commitment to sport throughout her career as an athlete, coach and sports advocate.

"Those are the qualities we looked for to fill the role.

"I couldn’t think of a better partner to lead the Team as we enter our Olympic year and head to Rio de Janeiro.

"She will be an inspiration to a new generation of Olympians."

Canada's Olympic preparations have been overshadowed so far by the resignation of Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) President Marcel Aubut in October after a string of sexual harrassment allegations, with Tricia Smith elected last month as his replacement.