Hold on: Justin Holland gets in some training with his sister Carissa recently at Fairfield Cabramatta PCYC. Picture: Simon Bennett'
TWO weeks ago the International Olympic Committee announced wrestling had been placed in a choker hold by administrators and axed from the 2020 Games.
The news left siblings Justin and Carissa Holland of Abbotsbury on the mat but they are determined to keep fighting.
The Fairfield Cabramatta PCYC members hope wrestling will get a reprieve when the 2020 Olympic sports program is finalised at an IOC meeting in Moscow in September.
Both want to wrestle at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
In the meantime Justin, 20, and Carissa, 19, are keeping their dreams alive.
While Carissa is taking a short break from competition because of university studies, she will remain in training until she resumes competition later this year.
She said her goal is to make the Australian team for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Justin has a big year of competition ahead of him. His campaign starts this Thursday when he flies to the Gold Coast to compete in the Australian titles on Saturday and Sunday.
"The nationals are also part of the Commonwealth trials," Justin, 20, said.
After the nationals, where Justin will compete in the 60 kilogram class, his schedule includes the Oceania Championships in Guam next month and the Commonwealth Championships in Glasgow in July.
Justin said his aim next year is to gain Commonwealth Games selection for a second time. He represented Australia at the 2010 Games in Delhi.
"I am lot stronger and bigger than I was when I wrestled at Delhi," he said.
"I was really only a boy then.
"I will be 21 if I get to compete at the 2014 Games for Australia.
"I will be a lot more confident at next year's Commonwealth Games. I learned a lot about myself competing in Delhi."