“I thank Jesus for my talent.” These are the humble words of 15-year-old Edrich Frederick Cornelius Johannes Nortjé, expressing his gratitude for a talent that has seen him travelling abroad.
Edrich is a champion wrestler and has been competing professionally since the tender age of seven. He has competed in South Africa, the Netherlands, Germany and Egypt.
Dedicated to the sport, Edrich practices three times a week at Sarel Cilliers with his coach Steven Brown, and the rest of the week he does fitness classes. “It helps you to keep fit and think clearly,” he says about the sport.
His father, Jan-Frederik Nortjé, commends the sport saying “it is excellent for mental and physical development of kids.”
Earlier this year, Edrich dominated the SA Championships taking gold in the U/20 age group on April 11. He also won the SA Championships in 2009, 2013 and 2014 in the Greco Roman division.
When wrestling in Germany he secured fourth place and was placed second in the Netherlands. Edrich recently participated in the African Wrestling Championships in Alexandria which took place for a week in Egypt from May 24 to May 30. He competed in the U/17 Greco Roman division and received a second place. “We are very proud,” added Mr Nortjé.
He qualified for the World Championships in Bosnia later this year but according to the United World Wrestling rules, he is too young to compete, as he is only U/15 this year.
This reversal did not deter the young wrestler. “I’m a little disappointed, but it’s okay because I’m only 15, so I have two more years to do that”.
He plans to take down opponents in the 2020 Olympics and the African Championships next year. With his hope pinned on wrestling and embracing his god-given talent, Edrich’s future looks bright.
WATCH: KZN Wrestlers: Edrich Nortjé along with Wiehan Wheelan and Klein Jan at the African Wrestling Championships held in Alexandria (video by Klein Jan Combrinck)
