Olympic Wrestling Styles
Olympic wrestling has a long and storied history, dating back to the ancient Olympic Games in 708 BCE. Wrestling was one of the original events in the ancient Greek Games, where it was highly regarded and included in both the Olympics and other Panhellenic Games. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the sport faded from the Olympic program until it was revived in the modern Games.
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Freestyle wrestling, which allows a wider range of techniques, was introduced to the Olympics in 1904 for men, while Greco-Roman wrestling, which restricts holds below the waist, has been part of the Olympic program since 1896. Women’s wrestling was added to the Olympics much later, making its debut at the 2000 Sydney Games.
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Wrestling has evolved over time with changes to rules, weight classes, and scoring systems, but it remains one of the most enduring and celebrated Olympic sports.
Freestyle
Freestyle wrestling is a dynamic and competitive combat sport where two athletes engage in one-on-one matches, aiming to pin or outscore their opponent through a combination of throws, takedowns, and grappling techniques. Unlike Greco-Roman wrestling, freestyle allows the use of both the upper and lower body to attack and defend, with points awarded for various moves such as takedowns, reversals, and exposure (when an opponent’s back is exposed to the mat). Matches are typically contested in two periods, with the wrestler who accumulates the most points or achieves a pin (placing both of an opponent's shoulders on the mat) declared the winner. Freestyle wrestling is an Olympic sport and emphasizes athleticism, agility, and strategy.
Greco-Roman
Greco-Roman wrestling is a style of combat sport in which competitors are only allowed to attack the upper body, prohibiting holds or grips below the waist. This restriction leads to an emphasis on throws, clinch work, and upper body techniques such as lifts, headlocks, and arm throws. Points are awarded for executing these techniques, including throws that result in the opponent’s back being exposed to the mat. Matches are contested in two periods, and the wrestler with the most points or a pin, where both of the opponent’s shoulders are held to the mat, wins. Greco-Roman wrestling is also an Olympic sport, requiring strength, technique, and balance.
Women's Freestyle
Women's freestyle wrestling is a combat sport where female athletes compete in one-on-one matches, using a combination of takedowns, throws, and grappling techniques to outscore or pin their opponent. Similar to men's freestyle wrestling, it allows the use of both the upper and lower body for offense and defense, with points awarded for moves such as takedowns, reversals, and exposures (when an opponent's back is exposed to the mat). Matches are contested in two periods, and the athlete who accumulates the most points or achieves a pin wins. Women's freestyle wrestling is an Olympic sport and emphasizes skill, strength, agility, and strategy, with weight classes to ensure fair competition.