Category — Wrestling

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.

Related:
Manuchar Kvirkvelia Waves Flag for Georgia

Photo source: chinadaily

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

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.

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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.

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