Sunday, June 17, 2012

London 2012: The Countdown Series: Wrestling Preview!

37 days remaining until the first day of the London Olympics. This is a preview of the wrestling at London!


ExCeL London (pictured) is the venue for the wrestling at this year's London Olympics. These matches will take place during the second and final full week of activities.

A total of 342 men and women wrestlers from 69 countries will compete in various classes of Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling at London this year.

A lot of interesting stuff regarding the wrestling at London. For example, the 74kg freestyle could boast some history. Already there's some. Buvaisar Saitiev has won three of the last four times in the 74kg freestyle category in the Olympics, including at Beijing 2008. Saitiev could be the first and only four-time Olympic wrestling champion with a victory at London. Artur Taymazov could go for a record-breaking three in a row in the super-heavyweight freestyle with a win at London. Also in freestyle, defending 55kg champ Saori Yoshida and 63kg champ Kaori Icho could go for three in the row in their classes at London. Women's wrestling has been instituted in the Olympics since Athens 2004.

On the Greco-Roman front, Aslanbek Khushtov could tie Istvan Kozma and Andrzej Wronski for most wins in the 96kg category with a win.

Back to Saitiev. His three wins in a weight class ties the legendary Alexsandr Karelin for most wins in a class. Karelin won three consecutive in the Greco-Roman super heavyweight class, when his bid for four straight got derailed by Rulon Gardner in the final at Sydney 2000.

Up next: A look at water polo!

No comments:

Post a Comment