WHILE wrestling’s possible exclusion from the 2020 Olympic Games was felt around the world, it caused barely a ripple in Australia.
Where it did reverberate was the western suburbs, with the sport of two of our Olympians, Farzad Tarash and Mark Anthony, in danger of being dismissed from the Games in seven years.
Tarash, 26, is one of the rising stars of wrestling in this country. Born in Iran, he moved to Australia with his parents at the age of 12 and attended St Margaret’s Maribyrnong and Maribyrnong College.
Unlike other sports, wrestling is not a full-time occupation, but it gave him the chance to succeed at university, where he graduated with a bachelor of applied sciences degree.
But, like other sports, Tarash trains as if he is a full-time professional without the perks, all in the hope of standing on the podium with a gold medal dangling around his neck at the 2016 Olympics. Tarash was initially drawn to the sport because his father, Parviz, was a national champion in his native country. But there was more to the sport for Tarash than family links.
“Everything about wrestling was interesting for me as a kid,” he said. “It’s physical, it involves technique and speed. It’s what a pure sport should have.”
Tarash has grown up in the right era. He got the chance to represent Australia in London last year. The national and Oceania champion is confident he can stay on top of his game to reach Rio de Janeiro in three years’ time.
Tarash’s disappointment with the notion that wrestling could be dropped from all future Olympics is more to do with the next generation.
“Definitely 2016 is my target,” he said, at which time he will be 30.
“For 2020, I’m thinking more about the younger kids coming up now.
“It’s disappointing to hear that some of their dreams could be shattered.”
