South Africa’s Steyn De Lange made victory rain over the wrestling drought South Africa has faced when it comes to Olympic qualifications, and booked South Africa’s spot for the Summer Olympics!
Alexandria, Egypt (26 March 2024) — The 2024 Seniors African and Oceania OG Qualifiers were not for the faint of heart, as determined competitors from several nations vied for their Olympic hopes and dreams.
For many countries, having their representatives book tickets to Paris would mean breaking what the United World Wrestling calls an ‘Olympic drought’. This is in reference to the multi-year waits some countries have faced in the world of wrestling when it comes to Olympic qualifications for the sporting code.
South Africa is one of the countries that have been stuck in the wrestling ‘waiting room’ for some time, considering that we have reportedly not had an Olympic representative in this code for 16 years.
But, the drought ended rapidly for Mzansi thanks to 23-year-old Nicolaas Johannes Steyn De Lange and his epic freestyle feat.
Hopes were high for South Africa after two wrestlers, Steyn De Lange (97kg) and Justin Van Zyl (125kg), made it to the semi-finals of the Qualifiers. But it was Steyn who ultimately secured the Olympic qualification thanks to a towering victory over Tunisia’s Mohamed Saadaoui.
It’s a big moment for South Africa and an even bigger moment for Steyn as his Olympic debut in wrestling.
“As a nation we can join and celebrate Steyn’s wonderful achievement! Let’s embrace and enjoy this moment and bottle it for years to come!” shared the South African Wrestling Federation.
Meanwhile in other Olympic qualification news on a different side of the sporting world, four South Africans have officially booked their Olympic spots after the fierce water battle that was the South African Canoe Championships. Read all about who made the Olympic splash here!
Sources: Various (Linked Above)
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