Australian freestyle wrestler Carissa Holland has missed out on a medal at the Youth Olympic Games despite turning in four quality bouts.

Coach Fabricio Itte said he was happy with how Holland had performed and was impressed with her ability to follow directions. Holland ended her first Youth Olympic Games campaign in sixth position after going down in a fifth place decider against Venezuelan Oriannys Segura.

“That girl is as tough as nails,” Itte said in reference to Holland’s third bout opponent, Moldovan Lulia Leorda.
“She will be in the medals – she was very strong so I think Carrissa performed well.

“I’m not so much concerned with the outcome – yes it nice to win – but I’m more impressed with her ability to listen and follow my directions under pressure.

“I’ve known Carissa since she was a little girl and I’ve never doubted or been surprised by the fight in her.”
Holland’s first round loss was a major setback, having been outscored 3-0 by the German wrestler, Laura Mertens.

After coming out strongly and going close to scoring the first points, Holland conceded three tough points after finding herself in difficult positions on her front. Mertens was constant and relentless in attacking the back and legs but Holland stayed strong refusing to be pinned.

The German closed out the proceedings with a clear victory leaving Holland needing to win her next two bouts to be any chance of a medal.

Buoyed by her family in the stands and vocal support from Itte, Holland won her second bout in the dying moments pinning Tunisian Ikram Gannouni with a clever move on the edge of the mat to claim a 4-0 victory. Like Mertens, Gannouni was again taller and had a longer reach.

The Tunisian continually attacked Holland’s legs and was able to use her longer arms to keep the young Australian at bay. Down by two points late in the round, Holland began a spirited fight back, first scoring a point on the edge of the mat and then flipping Leorda on her back and pinning her effectively ending the bout.

Holland’s third bout with Moldovan Lulia Leorda started with frenetic pace and for the third time she gave away several inches in reach and height.

The Maldovan raced out to an early and was able to hold it closing the match at 3-0. After the loss against Leorda, the fourth and final bout was purely academic.

Despite another valiant effort Holland went down to the Venezuelan 3-0 in the fifth and sixth place decider.
Her teammates Haris Fazlic and Jayden Lawrence will compete on Tuesday morning.

Eliiot Woods
AOC