Wrestler represents SA in the Congo
Brakpan Wrestling Club’s Martin Erasmus is a wrestler of note and one of the members of Team South Africa flying the flag at the All Africa Games, in Brazzaville, Congo.
Erasmus has been wrestling since he was barely out of nappies.
With his grandfather, father, uncles and brothers all wrestling, he had almost no choice in the matter, he grew up next to the mat.
Throughout his wrestling years, the former Hoërskool Stoffberg pupil always excelled and has done very well, winning a total of 26 national championships.
Despite the fact that he has achieved so much on the mat he never managed to tour for the country, as funding has always been a problem.
He completed matric last year and decided to see how far he can go with his wrestling in the run-up to the 2016 Olympics, that will be held in Rio, next year.
His biggest dream is to qualify for the event.
The first step to this goal was to qualify for the Continental Championships, that were held in Egypt, in May.
Erasmus did this with ease, having won both the junior and senior national trials in February.
Brakpan Wrestling Club and the wrestling parents chipped in and gathered sponsors to send the talent to Egypt, where he earned his junior and senior Protea colours.
He did not disappoint and became the first wrestler to win a gold and silver medal at a Continental Wrestling Championship. He became the 96kg Junior Continental Champion and subsequently qualified for the Junior World Championships.
He also took silver in the senior competition and, as a result, was selected by SASCOC to take part in the All African Games.
Erasmus will be competing today (Friday, September 19) and his club wish him the best of luck.
