Wrestling your brother for the remote control may seem normal behaviour for any Australian teenager, but for Carissa Holland it has been a stepping stone to the Youth Olympics.

Holland, 16, was today selected to compete in freestyle wrestling at the Singapore Youth Olympic Games in August, along with her two male teammates Jayden Lawrence and Haris Fazlic.

Holland has been wrestling for six years and has the added excitement of being selected alongside Lawrence who is her cousin. 

Growing up in a family with a strong interest in wrestling, Holland originally got into the sport through her brother Justin who is headed to the Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

 “My family are all really excited for me to be going to the Youth Olympics, it’s something every athlete dreams of and I’m happy to make them proud,” she said.

 “My brother Justin was the one who got me into it originally, he started to go along and was having such a good time I decided to follow him, I have been going ever since.”

Holland also draws inspiration from her sister.

“My younger sister has autism,” she said. “I do a lot to help her and she is my inspiration.”

Holland also trains and competes in judo, and has a background in dance which has contributed to her success in wrestling.

 “Martial arts and dance has given me a good lead into wresting but there has still been a lot to learn.
“Wrestling is different to other sports because it’s like a big family. My club [Liver pool PCYC] is fantastic -we are all so close, I’ve met the most terrific people through wrestling.”

Holland’s goal is not just to get to an Olympic Games but go all the way to the podium, and inspire more Australian women to take up the sport.

Women’s freestyle wrestling has been an Olympic Sport since Athens 2004, with the first Australian, Kyla Bremner competing in Beijing four years later.

Singapore is the perfect platform for the eager Year 11 student to pursue her goal of competing at to an Olympics.

“I was competing in Singapore last January and loved the place,” Holland said. “I’m really looking forward to getting back there and meeting a new group of people.

“The competition will be tough but I can’t wait to get there and get into it – the entire experience will be something I will never forget.”

Men’s and women’s freestyle will be contested in Singapore along with men’s Greco-Roman wrestling. Competition will run from August 15-18 at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in the heart of the financial district in Singapore.

Elliot Woods
AOC