WHAT A GRIP!

He was forced to put his rugby dream on hold so he gave arm-wrestling a go – now this South African giant is a champion in Australia

- NADINE RAMONGANE

HE SLAMS his palm against the table three times to hype himself up. Then he turns his baseball cap backwards on his head, plants his elbow on the table and grabs his opponent’s hand.

On one side of the table of this arm-wrestling battle is Australian legend “Super Mario” Tambakis and on the other a sensational newcomer from South Africa, 20-year-old Riekerd Bornman.

The referee makes sure their grips and postures are technically correct then gives the go-ahead for the contestants to start pushing.

Super Mario wins four of the five bouts but he graciously predicts the rookie from Africa will soon be among the Australian top five.

“He’s phenomenal,” he says of Riekerd.

That was earlier this year and Super Mario’s prediction wasn’t far off. The two recently clashed again – and this time Riekerd won the right to brag as the victor in their arm-wrestling match. He’s still basking in the glory of his win.

“Nobody thought I was going to beat Mario,” he tells us from Brisbane. “He’s a big name and has been in the industry for more than 10 years. As true as can be, I beat him.” 

The gentle giant, who hails from Meyerton in south Johannesburg, was recently crowned the right-hand champion of Armwrestling Entertainment (AWE) and as Super Mario predicted, is now regarded as one of the best in Australia. 

And chancers should think twice before trying to take him on. “My hand is so strong now, I can squeeze a potato to pieces,” Riekerd says with a chuckle.