Erasmus keeps Rio dream alive
Martin Erasmus, Brakpan Wrestling Club’s pride and joy, took part in the Continental Championships in Alexandria, Egypt on Sunday, March 6.
He managed to win silver in the 86 to 97kg senior division, in what can only be described as a battle of the titans.
He lost after full-time by one point in the match of the tournament, against Egypt’s Aly Hamdy Amin Moustafa.
His hard work and dedication together with this silver medal made Erasmus the only South African wrestler to qualify for the next round of qualifications for the Olympic Games in Rio later this year.
At the tender age of 20 this is an achievement that few wrestlers at his age can put down on their CVs as the optimal age for world and Olympic participation in wrestling is normally between the ages of 23 and 28.
Erasmus returned to South Africa on Tuesday, March 8.
He will ramp up his training and preparation for the last of the hurdles to Rio 2016.
Only silver or gold at the last qualification tournament in Istanbul, Turkey, will be good enough to get him to Rio.
The qualification tournament will take place from May 6 to May 9.
Should Erasmus succeed in his goal to qualify for Rio 2016 he will be the first South African wrestler to represent the country at the Olympics since Heinrich Barns in 2008.
Qualifying for the games became extremely difficult in the last two Olympic cycles as Sascoc does not allow any sporting code to qualify at any of the continental championships.
Athletes need to qualify at world championships or cross-continent qualification tournaments like this one in Europe, which makes it financially and physically difficult for the wrestlers.
