Wrestling delight for Dean

Ruiter Wrestling Club has an abundance of talent and Dean van Zyl is proof of that.

He was chosen to be part of the South African team that will compete at the Wrestling World Championships in Las Vegas later this year.

Dean qualified for the team by winning first place in the South African trials in March.

Dean is no stranger to international competition as he finished third in the 2012 Commonwealth games in India and claimed the bronze medal in the Olympics qualifier in Finland.

However, he missed out on participating in the Olympics as only the first two finishers in his group could go through.

Dean, who is currently a coach at the wrestling club for the past seven years, started wrestling 20 years ago.

“You have to be mentally strong and work hard to be able to compete at the highest level. Dedication and faith in yourself is a key to getting there. You cannot just sit around at home, “he said.

Dean trains on Tuesdays and Thursdays with the club and conducts his own training such as jogging and weight training.

“We also have a national training camp every weekend where we work to improve ourselves and be ready for international competitions,” he said.

The 27-year-old added that his love for the sport stems from it being a competition for individuals.

“When you are on the mat, it’s just you and your opponent. If you work hard and are prepared for the match then you will win, there are no teammates to help you,” he said.

Dean is now preparing for the Spanish Open in July where the national team will be competing.

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