Bulldog brings gold back to Brakpan
The 24-year-old former Hoërskool Stoffberg learner was an absolute powerhouse in the men’s freestyle 92kg division final, dominating Indian wrestler and double Commonwealth champion Mausam Khatri 12-2.
“There’s just no place like home.”
Those are the words of a supremely modest Martin Erasmus who brought wrestling gold back to Brakpan from the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
You cannot find a single person in Brakpan who isn’t beaming with pride after the “Bulldog from Brakpan” (as he’s been dubbed by various media houses) claimed wrestling gold at the Games on Australia’s Gold Coast on April 13, which turned out to be a lucky Friday the 13th.
It is South Africa’s first Commonwealth Games wrestling gold medal since 1958 – since Abraham Geldenhuys and a few of his teammates won gold in Cardiff, at the then Empire Games, some 60 years ago.
The Brakpan bulldog, who has been wrestling at Brakpan Wrestling Club since three years old, was fitter, quicker and too strong for his Indian opponent to get the gold medal around his neck.
“What is rest time?” Martin asked when the Herald questioned him if he was going to be taking some time off following his victory.
“I’ll be back in training on Thursday.”
Speaking to the Herald at his home club on the evening of April 17 he said that he was feeling tired since he landed at O R Tambo International Airport on April 15.
You wouldn’t say that he was tired though – the gold medallist was quite at ease stretching out some of the youngsters who were preparing for training on the mat and then replying to questions and posing for photographs from the newspaper journalists who had come to the club to chat to the man of the moment.
His club mate and good friend Michael Gaitskill (with whom Erasmus has been wrestling with for most of his life) was also in attendance in his green and gold Commonwealth tracksuit.
Gaitskill lost his opening bout on April 14 when he went down to Alexander Moore of Canada, losing out on a technical superiority decision (12-2 on technical points).
Also read: Martin Erasmus gears up for Commonwealth Champs
“Obviously I felt disappointed to lose,” Gaitskill said.
“It was tough, you couldn’t lose your head, else you’re out.
“It was my own fault because I haven’t had much international experience.
“It’s something that I will learn from and use as a motivation.”
Both wrestlers agreed that it felt “lekker” to be back in Brakpan.
“I don’t feel like a hero,” said Martin.
“I just want to set a good example for the little ones here.”
His proud father Rassie Erasmus, an accomplished wrestler in his day and coach at the club, said that he hopes that his son’s win will usher in new support for wrestling in South Africa.
“Wrestling is an extremely small sport in South Africa.
“It looks as if his win has caused some waves.
“We’ve spoken to and had some phone calls from some people who’ve expressed some interest in getting involved with wrestling as sponsors, but we’ll see.
“Our guys have day jobs.
“Some of the international wrestlers train for six hours a day whereas our boys train for two hours after a long day of work.
“We can make wrestling better if we get a big sponsor on board.”
On the topic of jobs, Martin visited his place of work, UniTrans Toyota Pat Hind Boksburg, on the morning of April 17 to show his colleagues his medal.
“They have been awesome with their support for me and by giving me time off to compete.”
Asked if it was a dream to win Commonwealth gold the unassuming champion said: “I wouldn’t say it was a huge dream.
“I take it day by day, match by match.
“You don’t step on the mat to lose.”
For now, the champion and his good pal Gaitskill are looking forward to getting back into training with an eye on the Olympic Games qualifiers in two years’ time.
“They cannot lie down now,” said Rassie.
“Two years seems like a long way away, but it will be here before you know it.”
To end it off, Martin asked Herald sports journalist Logan Green (who is training for this year’s Comrades Marathon) if he would be taking up wrestling any time soon.
Green replied that he would take up wrestling if Martin took up long distance running.
Both agreed that they would stick to their preferred sports.
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