Charles Thoms, wrestler, 'peaking' in time for Pan Am Games

Charles Thoms has no shortage of confidence as he get's ready for the biggest sporting event of his life. Thoms will be wrestling in the 130-kilogram Greco-Roman category at the Pan Am Games in Toronto.

"We're going to bring home a medal. We're going to hammer them," said Thoms.

Thoms has been wrestling in Frederictonfor six years now.

He started at the University of New Brunswick in 2009and will be graduating this fall. In 2011, he was named an All-Canadian as a member of UNB's wrestling team.

But he saidthe Pan Am Games will be different than any other event he's competed in.

"This is the biggest one for me so far. It's easily the biggest," said Thoms.

Thoms has competed internationally before. In 2013, he wrestled in the Francophone Games in Nice, France, where he took home a bronze medal.

Thoms hits the matfive times a week for trainingand heads to the weight room three days a week. He said he feels that things are lining up well for him.

"I feel really good, I'm really peaking well for this tournament, he said.

The 26-year-old first got into wrestling in high school.

He had already tried his hand at other sports, such asbaseball and rugby, but wrestling was what stuck.

He said heenjoys the physical nature of the sportand being able to battle hard with someone else on the mat.

"It's a physical sport. What's not to like," said Thoms.

His confidence is almost as sturdy as his physique. When asked if had any concerns or nerves going in, he answered with no hesitation.

"Never. I'm just going to leave it all out there on the mat," he said.

All Thoms's training will come to a head on July 16, when he wrestles for his shot at a medal.