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    Tom Franck •

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    Franck: Ten best freestyle wrestlers at Olympic Games

    The landscape of international freestyle wrestling at the senior level has become remarkably balanced over the past few years. Yes, Russia remains the favorite year in and year out but the current rules, combined with the ascendency of teams of such as Azerbaijan and Iran, make them less of a lock than they used to be.

    Individually, there is parity as well. It's very difficult for athletes to repeat as a World champion. Last year, of the seven champions, only Victor Lebedev of Russia (55 kilos), Besik Kudukhov of Russia (60 kilos), and Medhi Taghavi of Iran (66 kilos) won previous titles. Lebedev did not make the Russian Olympic team for London and at the World Cup in May, three standing World champions did not take gold and each suffered a defeat.

    One cannot overstate the level of adjustments that senior level wrestlers can make. After competitions, analysis of strengths and "weaknesses" can be scrutinized to a very high degree. Because of this, we see revenge matches with a fair amount of regularity. Moreover, the rise in availability online videos of matches allows wrestling fans to able to appreciate the level of strategy that is often involved. Because videos can be enjoyed over and over again online, the extent to which a plan was executed is now more easily understood.

    In short, it's difficult to rank or handicap international wrestling competitions at the senior level since, frankly, everyone is great. The difference between victory and defeat is miniscule. In assessing the Olympic field, one can only go by two general guidelines.

  • Performances at the Worlds or Olympics must be given greater significance than wins or losses at other competitions throughout the year. Wrestling is a sport about peaking. The technique level is very high and constantly needs to be modified and advanced as opponents study, adapt and strategize. Year-round results should be looked at, but with the understanding that sometimes wrestlers are "working out the kinks" or integrating new techniques into their arsenals in certain events.

  • Recent world medals must outweigh older medals -- especially with wrestlers who have had very long careers. Top-notch freestyle wrestling leaves no room for error and losing even a half step in performance can guarantee that an athlete will not advance. That said, experience is invaluable and wrestlers who keep showing up at the worlds year after year put the odds in their favor of putting together a great run.

    Here is a look at the ten best freestyle wrestlers at the 2012 Olympic Games ...

    10. Khetag Gozyumov
    Country: Azerbaijan
    Weight Class: 96 kilos
    World/Olympic Medals: 1 gold, 1 silver 1 bronze

    Commentary: Gozyumov didn't place at the Worlds last year, but split epic battles in the finals with Khadjimourat Gatsalov of Russia in 2009 and 2010. Gozyumov is 29 and doesn't seem to be in decline in his abilities. He looked solid in his runner-up finish at the World Cup in April, despite losing to Yazdani.

    9. Denis Tsargush
    Country: Russia
    Weight Class: 74 kilos
    World/Olympic Medals: 2 gold

    Russia's Denis Tsargush, a two-time World champion, is looking to bounce back from last year's disappointment (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)
    Commentary: Tsargush's loss to Burroughs in the second round of the Worlds last year was closer than many seem realize. Tsargush was in on a deep shot at the end of the second period which would have won the match. Time expired before a point could be scored, but it was awfully close. Tsargush is notorious for gamesmanship and his pulling of singlets is well documented. This does not change the fact that he is an exceptional talent. Tsargush remains capable of beating everyone at the weight class remains the biggest threat to putting a blemish on Jordan Burroughs' career.

    8. Artur Taymazov
    Country: Uzbekistan
    Weight Class: 120 kilos
    World/Olympic Medals: 4 gold 3 silver 1 bronze

    Commentary: This two-time Olympic champ is most decorated freestyle wrestler at the Olympic Games. Taymazov has been active since 2000 when he won the silver and has been dominant, if not solid, in the years following. He took silver at the Worlds in 2010 and eighth last year after losing a three-period bout to Tervel Dlagnev of the United States in the quarters. It is certain that he will perform as best he can in going for a fourth Olympic medal. Regardless, one would not be surprised to see him leave his shoes on the center of the mat following is final match in London.

    7. Franklin Gomez
    Country: Puerto Rico
    Weight Class: 60 kilos
    World/Olympic Medals: 1 silver

    Franklin Gomez won a silver medal at the Worlds last year (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)
    Commentary: The former Michigan State wrestler looked great at the Worlds last year, making the finals and losing to Kudukhov from a leg clinch in the first period, and then 1-0 in the second period. The two faced each other again a few weeks ago with Gomez coming out on top. Gomez scored from the clinch in the first period and then dominated the second 6-0, countering a number of well-known Kudukhov moves throughout the bout. If this bout had taken place in January perhaps Gomez wouldn't be on this list, but given how close to the Olympics it took place and how great Gomez has looked overall, he needs to be in the conversation -- more so than say, Vasyl Fedorishin of Ukraine, who has two silver and a bronze, but has not performed as well in recent events.

    6. Reza Yazdani
    Country: Iran
    Weight Class: 96 kilos
    World/Olympic Medals: 1 gold, 2 bronze

    Commentary: Yazdani came out on top in what was arguably the deepest weight class at the Worlds last year. Yazdani is an athlete that is easy to root for, not without emotion and seemingly very concerned with sportsmanship. Not surprisingly, 96 kilos is probably the deepest weight again this year, with a number of very talented wrestlers heading to London. At the World Cup recently, Yazdani beat Gazumov of Azerbaijan, but lost to of Elizbar Odikadze of Georgia who lost to Gazumov. In London, Gadisov of Russia will also be in the mix after winning a very deep national tournament in Russia.

    5. Mehdi Taghavi
    Country: Iran
    Weight Class: 66 kilos
    World/Olympic Medals: 2 gold

    Commentary: Taghavi has one of the best single leg shots in the world. It is set up so well and his determination to finish it makes it very difficult for opponents to defend. Taghavi beat Tatsuhiro Yonemitsu of Japan in the finals last year, but Yonemitsu got revenge at the World Cup in May in one of the most high-quality bouts of the event. The two should be favorites again in London with Taghavi being given a slight edge due to his victory coming at the more important event.

    4. Sharif Sharifov
    Country: Azerbaijan
    Weight Class: 84 kilos
    World/Olympic Medals: 1 gold, 2 bronze

    Commentary: Sharifov's run at the Worlds last year was impressive, which included a sold victory over 2004 Olympic champion Cael Sanderson of the United States. Sharifov has looked great since, winning the World Cup in May. His only loss this year took place when he bumped up to 96 kilos and lost a match against his teammate Khetag Gozyumov. He seems to have really hit his stride and could continue to dominate.

    3. Jordan Burroughs
    Country: United States
    Weight Class: 74 kilos
    World/Olympic Medals: 1 gold

    Jordan Burroughs of the United States could move up to No. 1 if he continues to perform at the level he's been wrestling (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)
    Commentary: Jordan Burroughs is the only wrestler on this list with an undefeated senior level career. If he continues to perform at the level he has been wrestling, he will move up to No. 1, but he must wrestle those matches first. Burroughs gave up takedowns in all five of his matches at the Worlds last year, but his offense is so relentless that opponents can neither keep up nor shut him down. A blueprint of how to beat Burroughs is unclear at this point. Some opponents have managed to keep him from scoring in the first period, but by the second period his pace becomes too much and he has obviously never lost a third period. At the World Cup in May Burroughs faced Sadegh Goudarzi of Iran. The bout was a rematch of the World finals last year and Goudarzi employed amazing strategy, shutting down Burroughs' shots but also launching his own counter offense at remarkably well-timed moments. Burrough's reaction to this counter-offense was amazing and he managed to turn the attacks into pushout points for himself and win the match. With Burroughs, it's not only the intensity and speed of his attacks, but also the way that he surveys the landscape of fast-action scrambles and the instantaneous decisions he makes. Moreover, these decisions are not always offensive. Burroughs possesses a remarkable ability to restrain himself from risky situations when strategy does not advise it.

    2. Bilyal Makhov
    Country: Russia
    Weight Class: 120 kilos
    World/Olympic Medals: 3 gold, 1 silver

    Bilyal Makhov celebrates after winning a World title in 2010 (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)
    Commentary: Makhov has been impressive in the last quadrennial, winning titles in 2009 and 2010 and losing in the finals last year to Aleksey Shemarov of Belarus. The match was won by Shemarov 1-0, 1-0 -- both periods being decided by leg clinches. Holding off for the clinch seemed to be Shemarov's strategy throughout the tournament. Regardless of who you're rooting for, these types of matches are frustrating to watch and are indicative of fans' dissatisfaction with the current rules. Despite last year's final, Makhov should still be considered the favorite here, along with 2009 World bronze medalist Tervel Dlagnev of the United States, who beat Shemarov en route to his World Cup title, and owns a win over Makhov.

    1. Besik Kudukhov
    Country: Russia
    Weight Class: 60 kilos
    World/Olympic Medals: 4 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze

    Russia's Besik Kudukhov remains a strong favorite to win a gold medal despite a loss earlier this year to Franklin Gomez (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)
    Commentary: Kudukhov is a true student of the sport and a great ambassador of wrestling. He possesses very dynamic offensive arsenal and an uncanny ability to seize point-scoring opportunities that are not obvious. His cat-like agility makes him very difficult to score on and also allows him to make last-second adjustments that are very frustrating for opponents. Kudukhov when to peak, routinely saving his best wrestling for when it counts the most.
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