Sports
Spoelstra: No need to penalize Ball any further
Erik Spoelstra supports no further penalties for LaMelo Ball after flagrant foul.
ESPN News1 min read
Sports
Long Island wrestling phenom overcomes odds after surviving horrific chimpanzee attack
TL;DR
Dunia Sibomana-Rodriguez, a high school wrestling star from Long Island, recently won a national championship and earned a college scholarship, despite having survived a traumatic chimpanzee attack in his childhood. His resilience and determination have been key to his success in wrestling.
Long Island wrestling phenom overcomes odds after surviving horrific chimpanzee attack
A local high school wrestling phenom just won a national championship and is heading to college on a scholarship, but that's a far cry from how his life started off thousands of miles away, where he endured a life-changing attack that's hard to fathom.
Dunia Sibomana-Rodriguez has always had guts and grit, so it's no surprise how well he took to wrestling.
He's been grappling with life since he was 6 years old, but he would not let life's challenges pin him down.
"I don't think I would have ever thought I'd be here, coming from my country and ending up being a good wrestler," Sibomana-Rodriguez said.
He was just a little boy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, when a swarm of chimpanzees attacked, killing Sibomana-Rodriguez's cousin, injuring his brother and leaving him with no easy life, trying to fit in. But then Sibomana-Rodriguez found wrestling.
"Once I started getting better at it, people started accepting me and I accepted them," he said.
Sibomana-Rodriguez came to the United States for reconstructive surgeries.
He had never wrestled a day in his life. Five Nassau County titles, three state championships and a national title later; the 18-year-old has committed to the University of North Carolina. As for how he got his start, he was taken in by a wrestling coach at Long Beach who would adopt him when he was in middle school.
"It meant everything because without him pushing me so hard I wouldn't be where I am today," Sibomana-Rodriguez said.
For teammate Ethan Andreuli, a sophomore, Sibomana-Rodriguez is more than a mentor. He's an inspiration.
"He always kept like a smile on his face, kept ignoring like the bad stuff, and he always kept working hard and doing the right thing," Andreuli said.
The high school wrestler needed more than a dozen surgeries. He lost a finger, part of an ear, and part of his face, but he never lost his indomitable spirit.
"His dedication, his hard work made other boys work," XX said.
Sibomana-Rodriguez made others realize their own potential.
"Don't let people determine who you are, and you should make your own story," Sibomana-Rodriguez said.
* More Long Island news
* Send us a news tip
* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts
* Download our connected TV app
Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News
Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply.
Q&A
What happened to Dunia Sibomana-Rodriguez during the chimpanzee attack?
Dunia Sibomana-Rodriguez survived a horrific chimpanzee attack when he was six years old, which significantly impacted his life.
How did Dunia Sibomana-Rodriguez perform in wrestling competitions?
He recently won a national championship in wrestling, showcasing his talent and hard work.
What are Dunia Sibomana-Rodriguez's future plans after winning the championship?
He is heading to college on a scholarship, continuing his journey in wrestling and education.
