The Torresan family has the distinct privilege of sending three members to Brazil to compete in the World Arm Wrestling Championships September 9 to 17.
“It is a huge honour to represent my country in Sŕo Vincente,” said Dalin Torresan, 16. “We have trained hard for this, and it really is a dream come true.”
The three men from Sherwood Park, who have roots in Lac La Biche cruised through provincials in Red Deer, and destroyed the competition at nationals in Vancouver.
“I had the opportunity to go to worlds when I was 18 and 19, but I turned it down,” said Dean Torresan, the father of the two boys. “I wasn’t going to turn down this chance.”
Dean Torresan grew up in Lac La Biche, a graduate of J.A. Williams High School, he used to challenge the older kids to arm wrestling competitions while he was a young junior high phenom at Dr, Swift Elementary School.
“The high school kids would come down to Dr. Swift at lunchtime, I’d always send them home disappointed,” Dean said.
In order to realize their dream, the family will need a little bit of help. It will cost $15,000 for the three of them to get to Sŕo Vincente. “It is really expensive, and we are expected to come up with the full amount,” Dean said.
In order to help raise money, the family has set up a Facebook donation page called, “Torresans Going for Gold” for those who want to help the family represent Canada in Brazil.
In order to get to this level the family had to do quite a bit of training: reverse curls, lap-curls, hand grips are all part of a daily routine that the family sticks to in order to stay in peak physical condition.
“The physical training is obviously important,” Dean said. “But the mental and timing aspects of arm wrestling are also extremely important to learn.”
The team heading to Brazil has some firepower: along with the Torresan’s a 16-time champion will be going.
“We have a powerful team this year, we could certainly make some noise in Sŕo Vincente” Dean said.
GROWING THE SPORT
The family is pushing to grow the sport in Alberta, Dalin and Logan, 13, are attempting to create arm wresting clubs in their school, and Dean is trying to raise support in Sherwood Park to have more local and regional tournaments.
“When I was growing up arm wrestling was a big deal, there was always tournaments being held,” Dean said.
“The goal is to get this into the Olympics, and we think it could get there.”
The growth of the sport is the number-one priority for the Torresan family. And with more recognition the family hopes folks will take notice.
“Even if we get last in the worlds, just to say we went and to grow the sport will be worth it,” Logan said.
