Petriashvili

[BuckyBadger]

I remember thinking in 2021 that the way he lost was going to haunt him. And then in 2024 he almost has it happen twice. That would have been torturous.

Glad to see him finally get the Olympic gold.

[billyhoyle]

I remember him absolutely dominating Junior worlds and then taking home a world bronze that same year. He has always had one of the most exciting styles that I’ve seen for a HWT, using his length on those low singles.
 

It has been a long time since then, but I’m glad to see him get it done on the biggest stage. 

[D3 for LU]

Hear, hear!

D3

[The Kid]

It's great to see a long, lean strong heavyweight with legit legs attacks. 

A tremendous win today.

[peanut]

According to reports, when Geno was only 11, he was kidnapped by unknown men in South Ossetia — a conflict zone — and kept in a basement for three months. He was given just enough food and water to not die. At one point he was chained to a wall and beaten. When he released, he was hardly able to walk due to malnourishment and mistreatment.

I can only imagine that coming out of something that horrible puts a sport into perspective.

And yet, even with the bigger picture in mind, and even with the trauma he almost certainly carries with him to this day, he became an Olympic champ.

Just an incredible story.

 

[GrandOlm]

Happy for Geno as well. Geno has now won every major title that a European based wrestler can win (and he won the crown jewel of that trifecta today).  Geno is too old to chase medal hall records, but he can now retire having accomplished everything in wrestling. 

Many great wrestlers in history never won the Olympics.  It's never a given, given their 4 year cycle.