Andrew Yang Bilski completed an MSc in Environmental Change and Management at Christ Church in 2011. He is hoping to represent Australia in the 66kg category of Greco-Roman Wrestling.
I have always done martial arts such as grappling and karate but took up wrestling at the suggestion of a former coach in 2007 who thought that my strength and athleticism would make it a natural fit. Once I started, I was hooked!
The process for qualifying for London 2012 is much more difficult than it was for Beijing 2008. Essentially, there are three qualifying events which I have to compete in. They are in October, January and March. I must achieve at least a top two finish in each event in order to move on to the next event. So, it is a 'sudden-death' process which leaves very little margin for error. It will be a very tough process but one which I am preparing myself physically and mentally for.
The main challenges are managing injuries and cutting weight. As you can imagine, Olympic wrestling is a very physical sport. Being thrown by an opponent, accidental collisions and having knees, shoulders and fingers twisted in awkward positions are a natural part of the training and competition. Over the years, I have torn rib cartilage, snapped a ligament in my shoulder, and suffered cuts requiring stiches.
I have learned the importance of proper injury management after each training and competition which involves a lot of icing to reduce swelling as well as a healthy dose of anti-inflammatories. The other challenge is cutting weight before a competition. There are different weight categories ranging from 55kgs to 120kgs. Most athletes have a natural body weight above that at which they compete, meaning they will often have to lose between five and ten kilograms prior to competition.
As weigh-ins happen the day before a competition, most athletes try to put a lot of weight back on overnight to ensure that they are bigger and stronger than their opponents on the day of competition. I have a fast metabolism and can normally cut six to eight kilograms without losing too much muscle. But the process of weight-cutting can be difficult as it often involves cutting down on carbohydrates and fluids as well as exercising in sweat suits to drop the mass of excess fluids right before the weigh-in. This is mentally tough because your body has been used to taking in a vast amount of calories in the weeks leading up to competition just to deal with the demands of the training load.
My training involves six sessions of two hours every week. Three of these are technique-based sessions where we run through specific moves and sparring. The other three are fitness-based which involve weights and anaerobic training, such as intervals and hill sprints, to improve endurance. Diet is very important to ensure proper muscle recovery. I have to ensure that my body gets enough protein and carbohydrates to be ready for the next session.
Combining sports and full-time study is challenging but rewarding. Training provides a way to channel my excess energy and reduce stress, and I will often feel more energised and have a deep sense of satisfaction afterwards. The difficulty, however, is that it is physically taxing which can make it challenging to focus on intellectual matters. Furthermore, my body will often be very sore and injured after training which can be mentally tough because it means that I go about my daily life experiencing a certain level of pain and discomfort. Moreover, wrestling is very strategic so you spend a lot of time thinking about your techniques and tactics long after you've left the mat. A large proportion of my time is spent watching videos of other opponents' matches as well as thinking about how to improve my own game. Nevertheless, study and sport can be complementary in many ways. You learn a lot about your character and personality when pushing your body to the limit and in the heat of competition. The lessons learned are often applicable and helpful to how I approach my studies.
The Olympics is the pinnacle of wrestling given that it is an amateur sport. It would be an experience of a lifetime to represent my country at my chosen sport but it will be an extremely tough process to qualify. Competing in the Olympics is an opportunity that not many people will ever have and so it a privilege that I feel lucky to carry.
My favourite athlete is the Beijing gold medallist in my weight division, Steeve Guenot. He's always very aggressive but has a great sense of sportsmanship. I also admire many mixed martial art fighters, many of whom are ex-wrestlers, such as Jon Jones and Dan Henderson who now compete in the Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC).
I would like to encourage anyone studying at Oxford to get involved with the Olympic Wrestling Club. Even if you don't have any experience, it is an excellent sport as a way of keeping fit as well as providing you with valuable skills that increase your self-confidence. You may also have the opportunity to participate in varsity competitions, particularly against some of the Ivy League universities in the United States that have an illustrious history in wrestling. As President of the Club in 2010-11, I can say that one of the highlights of my year at Oxford was captaining the team in Oxford's competition against Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut!
