A rare talent, the 21-year-old Namibian, who is competing in the men’s 55 kilogramme freestyle competition, has set himself a target of winning a medal here at the Olympic Games in London.

Speaking to 2K Plus International Sports Media, Shilimela said there would be a lot of pressure on him to do well but that he was used to it.

He turned 21 on July 30, but what he lacks in experience, he certainly makes up for in confidence and trust in God.

‘I pray and ask God to help me and if hears my prayer he would help me, I can get a medal' he added.

Before the Olympics he competed at an international wrestling tournament in Spain where he won two bouts against wrestlers from Moldova and Kazakhstan, while losing one bout to a wrestler from Turkey.

Shilimela eventually finished fifth in his category and said his performance gave him hope for the Olympics.

Though Shilimela didn’t grow up in a Christian home and his mother was against his church attendance, the most important thing for him is being a lover of Jesus.

'Jesus means a lot to me, he does everything for and I trust in him,' he concluded.

This talented wrestler has spent the past two years honing his skills at a High Performance Wrestling Centre in Dakar, Senegal.

Shilimela said it was a dream come true when he qualified for the Olympics after winning a silver medal at the Africa and Oceania Olympic Qualifiers in Morocco in June.


Written by Solomon Izang Ashomsk, editor of Parable Magazine in South Africa.