The Olympics Blog » Wrestling

Video: Carol Huynh’s Gold Medal Bout

bill — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 12:59:00 +0000

Here’s Carol Huynh’s gold medal bout for you “Carol-crazy” Canadians. The quality of the video leaves something to be desired but it’s the only one currently available at Youtube. I’m sure some good soul will upload a better video later. For the time being, enjoy this video and send a thank you message to Carol.

Carol Huynh: Finally, A Gold for Canada

bill — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 12:13:00 +0000

Our Canadian friends who’ve been gnashing their teeth because they’ve been medal-less for days will, I think, gnash their teeth no more. Canada now has three medals one of which is a gold medal courtesy of wrestler Carol Huynh who’s being carried above by her coach and some other guy
Ah, the sweet tears of victory. Congratulations to you, Carol.

Photo sources: beijing2008 and CBC Olympics

Andrea Minguzzi Wins Gold Despite Protest

bill — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 12:25:00 +0000

This is apparently how Italian wrestler Andrea Minguzzi won his gold medal. Angry Olympian man and medal thrower, Ara Abrahamian, however believes that the medal belongs to him and not to this flag-waving Italian.

Photo credit: AP via thestar and beijing2008

Introducing Ara Abrahamian: The Angry Olympian Man

bill — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 11:59:00 +0000

Is Swedish Ara Abrahamian a sore loser or did the judges rob him of a medal better than bronze? From reuters:

Swedish wrestler Ara Abrahamian threw down his Olympic bronze medal in protest on Thursday after his bid for greco-roman gold was ended by a decision denounced by the Swedish coach as “politics”.

Abrahamian took the bronze from around his neck during the medal ceremony, stepped from the podium and dropped it in the middle of the wrestling mat then walked off.

“I don’t care about this medal. I wanted gold,” he said.

I don’t know whether or not to feel bad for Ara but I do know that he has created a practice, the art of medal dumping, which this blog will be monitoring in the future. We will be adding it to the art of medal kissing, medal biting, arms waving, and other Olympic traditions.

Olympic Results: Steeve Guenot Bags Gold Medal for France

bill — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 08:48:00 +0000

Aha, another flag waver. Steeve Guenot, like the Georgian flag waver I blogged about earlier, certainly earned the right to wave his country’s flag [or mini-flags in this instance].

Steeve (did the civil registrar misspell his name when they had him registered?) won the gold medal in Greco-Roman Wrestling [66 kg.] making French President Nicholas Sarkozy very happy indeed.

Photo source: chinadaily.com

How to Win an OIympic Gold Medal

bill — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 08:38:00 +0000

Tip number one on how you can win an Olympic gold medal: Never ever allow your opponent’s butt to land on your face.

This tip is from Georgian wrestler Manuchar Kvirkvelia who beat China’s Chang Yongxiang for the gold in Graeco Roman wrestling.

Photo source: chinadaily

Manuchar Kvirkvelia Waves Flag for Georgia

bill — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 08:15:00 +0000

His country may be at war with Russia but this did not prevent Manuchar Kvirkvelia from emerging as the Olympic champion in Greco-Roman wrestling (74 kg). Bad Uncle Vladimir might not be happy with your flag-waving but he can’t do anything about it.

Photo source: getty images via beijing 2008

Olympian to Watch: Ari Taub, Canadian Wrestler

bill — Tue, 06 May 2008 05:19:00 +0000

Just when I finished slightly making fun of those who quote Baron de Coubertin’s overused “not the triumph but the struggle, not to win but to take part”, I came across this story of Canadian Greco-Roman wrestler Ari Taub which made me want to bow my head in shame.

To understand why, here’s a list of things you should know about Ari Taub:

1. He is a Canadian wrestler who qualified for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. He, however, lost his spot when he agreed to a wrestle-off with another wrestler.

2. Doctors told him that he developed bone spurs in his neck and that he was at risk of being a quadraplegic if he continues to wrestle. His dream crushed, he then goes to law school. Eight years later, it was discovered that he was misdiagnosed and that he can actually wrestle.
3. He returned to wrestling in 2004 and won the Canadian open. He was on the verge of going to Athens but was told that he is not eligible because he lacked international matches.

4. In 2008, he got a spot for the Beijing Games but he has to finance his own training, his trip to the Olympics and other international competitions. Odd, no? Here’s why according to our reliable source: For some inexplicable reason, freestyle wrestlers are funded athletes but Greco-Roman wrestlers are not.

5. When he goes to Beijing Ari Taub, at 37 years old, might be the oldest wrestler in the competition.

Whew. His story is an inspiring example of the Olympic ideal of “not to win but to take part”, isn’t it? So because of Ari Taub, I promise to never again poke fun at whoever uses that quote again. [But in my defense, I was teasing sports officials not athletes.]

Anyways, good luck Ari. You’ve got us in your corner.

Outside reading: Canada.com and Globe and Mail
PHOTO SOURCES: wrestling.ca and leitor.com

Harry Geris, Canadian Olympian, 60

bill — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 23:03:00 +0000

Our condolences to the family of Harry Gerris, a Canadian wrestler who participated in three Olympiads (Mexico 1968, Munich 1972, and Montreal 1976).

Geris also represented Canada at the Pan-American Games, the Commonwealth Games and the World Cup, winning bronze medals at all three events.

Here’s the report about Harry’s death from the Toronto Star:

Harry Geris – a three-time Olympian known as the Gentle Giant of Canadian wrestling – has died at the age of 60 in London, Ont.

His body was found by a construction worker Thursday behind a high school where he was delivering wrestling mats for a tournament.

Police said foul play isn’t suspected but an autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death.

And here’s a tribute written by Richard Anthony Piet in honor of his friend, Harry:

HARRY GERIS WRESTLING OLYMPIAN

My Good Friend, my nemesis Harry Geris has passed at 60 years.

I have great memories of the many matches Harry engaged me in. When I moved to Toronto I won the Amateur under 18 heavyweight Gold because of the moves I learned from him and because he had moved on…..previous to that I had lost every Canadian final to Harry.

St. Peter has the gates wide open for your graduation and is grateful to have the best wrestling coach on his team now!

Thank you Harry – we will not forget you.

Again, our condolences to Harry’s family and friends.

PHOTO CREDIT: universitysport.ca