Alberton wrestler to represent South Africa in England
From doing wrestling as an alternative sport to representing the country in wrestling championship in England in July/August. Edward Lessing will represent the country in England.
A week ago, Alberton wrestler Edward Lessing (21) left Alberton for Pietersburg in Limpopo to prepare for the Commonwealth of Nations Championship to be held in England in July/August.
Lessing will be in Pietersburg for two months where he will be training three times a day to increase his chances of winning the gold medal in Birmingham, England.
The young champion was born and bred in Alberton where his love for wrestling grew. He is one of the senior national wrestlers in South Africa.
He has won 14 South African championships and has represented SA in several countries.
Lessing started wrestling at the age of nine because he wanted to increase his chances of becoming a professional rugby player.
He won his first medal three years later and to date has won over 200 medals.
He suffered a knee injury in 2018, with his medical practitioner urging him to choose between rugby and wrestling. That was when he knew that he wanted to do wrestling for the rest of his life.
Lessing believes that he was born with the innate ability to be a successful wrestler because he has everything that it takes to be in the ring and produce the best results.
“I have been consistent because of the amount of respect I have towards what I do, and I would say that is the reason I often end up on the podium,” Lessing explained.
Lessing described wrestling as a lifestyle because the sport teaches important lessons, such as self-control and discipline.
According to his father, Antonius Lessing, this is an outstanding performance for a 21-year-old, given many of his competitors have at least seven years of industry experience.
He recently competed at the African Continental Championship in Morocco, where he came fifth place in Greco Roman and third in Freestyle.
“I am aware that the two months camp in Pietersburg will come with lots of pressure, however, I know I will get something positive out of it and it will better my chances of winning the gold medal in the upcoming championship,” Lessing said.
Lessing is ranked number one in South Africa within his weight class.
