Wrestling is one of the oldest combat sports and was part of the military training of the Greeks. It was included in the ancient Olympic Games and was one of the main events. The Romans later adopted the sport in a less violent form in the arenas, and wrestling remained popular. At the first modern Olympic Games, the sport was immediately included in the programme in the form of Greco-Roman wrestling. In 1904, a second variant, “freestyle” wrestling, was introduced at the Olympics.
The objective is identical in both styles: two opponents try to throw each other to the ground and pin their opponent’s shoulders to the mat using holds and techniques. The difference between the two disciplines is that holds below the hips are permitted in freestyle wrestling and the legs may also be used, whereas this is not permitted in Greco-Roman wrestling. The latter sport is also only open to men, while women have their own Olympic competition in freestyle wrestling.
Wrestling at the Olympic Games
During the Olympic Games, athletes are divided into seven weight categories (four for women). A wrestler must possess strength, technique and flexibility. Learning wrestling holds, such as arm locks and leg locks, requires years of training. In addition to technique, athletes also train their strength to escape their opponent’s holds or to maintain control over their opponent. Wrestling matches are overseen by a match officiating team consisting of a mat referee, a referee, three scorekeepers and three judges.
As the match progresses, the participants receive points for good holds, attacks and throws, for example. The match is won if the opponent’s shoulders are held against the mat for more than five seconds or if one participant has a 12-point lead. If six minutes of wrestling have elapsed and there is still no winner, the wrestler with the most points is declared the winner.
Wrestling Rules
During tournaments, the wrestlers are divided into two pools. A participant is eliminated after losing twice. The winners of both pools compete against each other for gold and silver. The runners-up in the pools compete against each other for bronze.
Each hold is worth a certain number of points (1, 2, 3 or 5 points). A match can therefore be won in the following ways:
- By pinning (both of the opponent’s shoulders pressed against the mat)
- By points majority (when the difference is 12 points or more)
- By points (when regulation time has elapsed, the points are counted)
- By disqualification or the opponent’s withdrawal
The following match points are awarded to the winning and losing wrestlers respectively:
- 5 : 0 for a pin
- 5 : 0 for a victory due to the opponent’s withdrawal because of injury
- 5 : 0 in the event of disqualification for violating the rules
- 4 : 0 for a victory by technical superiority (a six-point difference over two periods) when the loser has scored no points<
- 4 : 1 for a victory by technical superiority (a six-point difference over two periods), when the loser has scored at least 1 technical point
- 3 : 0 for a points victory in two of the three periods without the loser scoring a technical point
- 3 : 1 for a points victory in two of the three periods, when the loser has scored at least 1 technical point
- 0 : 0 if both wrestlers have been disqualified for violating the rules
