An old nemesis prevents wrestler Tonya Verbeek from ending her Olympic career with a gold medal

An old nemesis prevented Tonya Verbeek from finishing her Olympic wrestling career with a gold medal.

Verbeek lost to Japan's Saori Yoshida in the 55-kilogram final at the London Olympic Games Thursday. The 34-year-old from Thorold, Ont., wins the second Olympic silver medal of her career while competing in her final Games.

Verbeek's parents, brothers and sisters where in the crowd to watch her battle Yoshida, who won the 55-kilogram gold at the last two Olympics and is a nine-time world champion. Verbeek is winless in nine career bouts against Yoshida.

Yoshida showed her speed and strength to win a late first-round takedown of Verbeek. That gave Yoshida the advantage going into the final round.

While the outcome wasn't what she wanted Verbeek can still take pride in a great career. She won a silver at the 2004 Games in Athens and bronze four years ago in Beijing.

Verbeek has always said she's more focused on the competition rather than the prizes available.

"The medals and all the trophies, they obviously represent and show where I've been and how I've done (but) you've got it all in here, in your heart,'' she told the Toronto Star. "That's the most important thing for me.''

Verbeek was ready to retire from wrestling after the 2008 Games. She took time off in 2010 to recover from a back injury and recharge mentally. Verbeek showed she still has the skill to be a contender by winning a silver medal at the 2011 world championships.

Verbeek opened the Olympic tournament with a win over Geeta Geeta of India then defeated four-time world champion medallist Tetyana Lazareva of the Ukraine. In the semifinal she performed a double-leg take-down to defeat Colombia's Jackeline Renteria Castillo to advance to the gold medal match.

Verbeek is the second Canadian wrestler to reach the podium. Carol Huynh won a bronze medal in the women's 48-kg class Wednesday.