Local wrestler on his way to Germany
Hoërskool Hugenote learner crowned SA's u-15 freestyle and Greek Roman champion.
Fernando Booysen recently won two South African wrestling titles.
He won gold medals in the Freestyle as well as the Greek Roman categories at the South African (SA) Youth Championships.
Club manager Dirk Booysen, who is also Fernando’s father, says it was his son’s sixth SA title in one year.
“We are only aware of one other wrestler, Martin Erasmus, who managed to win six titles in one year,” he says.
Erasmus is currently SA’s number one wrestler and also Fernando’s hero.
Fernando has won 21 SA titles including the two recent titles.
During the recent Gauteng East Wrestling Federation’s prizegiving, held at Brakpan Wrestling Club, Fernando received the trophy for the u-15 freestyle as well as Greek Roman Wrestler of the Year.
He will be leaving for Leipzig in Germany again as an exchange student on December 3.
Dirk says during this time Fernando will also attend training camps in preparation for the upcoming Africa Championships.
The championships will take place in Port Harcourt, Nigeria in February.
“He will leave Germany to go to Nigeria for the championships on February 5 where he will compete in the u-48 freestyle weight class,” says Dirk.
Fernando is adamant to win the championships once more to qualify for the Youth Olympic Games which will take place in Argentina in October.
“Only the winners in certain weight categories qualify for the Games,” says Dirk.
Fernando is excited to go to Germany in preparation for the Africa Championships.
“I will make my country proud,” he says.
