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Zain Withdraws

gimpeltf

By gimpeltf
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gimpeltf NCAA All-American

gimpeltf

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From USAW-
 

Retherford withdraws from Olympic mens freestyle 65 kg repechage as medical precaution

PARIS, France – Zain Retherford, the U.S. Olympian at 65 kg in men’s freestyle wrestling, has withdrawn from the competition in Paris as a medical precaution after sustaining a head injury during Saturday’s tournament.

 

Retherford competed in the preliminaries at 65 kg on Saturday, losing to 2022 World champion Rahman Amouzadkhali of Iran, 8-0.

 

When Amouzadkhali won his semifinal match on Saturday evening, Retherford became eligible to compete in repechage on Sunday. He was scheduled to face Islam Dudaev of Albania in the 11 a.m. session on Sunday.

 

Retherford suffered a concussion while training in preparation for the Olympic Games and had recovered prior to the competition. During his bout against Amouzadkhali, his injury symptoms returned. With support of his coaches and in consultation with medical staff, the decision was made for Retherford to withdraw from the tournament.

 

Following the decision, Retherford expressed his gratitude to the Team USA fans, coaches, support staff and his family for the continued support and encouragement during this time.

 

Retherford competed in his first Olympic Games in Paris. He was a 2023 World champion and 2022 World silver medalist. Retherford was a three-time NCAA champion for Penn State, and hails from Benton, Pa.

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boconnell State Champion

boconnell

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47 minutes ago, skandar said:

100% This is an excuse for not being able to make weight.

This comment says way more about you than it does about Zain.

I have no idea what his health status is, but concussions are as serious as it gets.  If anything I wonder what he was doing competing at all and not giving up the spot before the games.

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pokemonster NCAA Qualifier

pokemonster

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11 minutes ago, boconnell said:

This comment says way more about you than it does about Zain.

I have no idea what his health status is, but concussions are as serious as it gets.  If anything I wonder what he was doing competing at all and not giving up the spot before the games.

Who would've been the rep if Zain stepped down? 

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Interviewed_at_Weehawken Big Brain

Interviewed_at_Weehawken

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1 hour ago, AgaveMaria said:

It is a medical decision. Leave it to the professionals, coaches and trainers.

Aren’t you the guy who absolutely has continued to trash Spencer Lee for years after him defaulting out of NCAAs? Yep. You’re that guy.
 

Edited by Interviewed_at_Weehawken
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BAC College Redshirt

BAC

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I have little doubt the weight cut plays a big role here. If it didn’t, then I’d expect he would weigh in tomorrow and make a game-day decision about on how he feels. I assume it’s also true that the concussion symptoms are what makes it too hard for him to safely make the day 2 cut. But I also think if he were at 70kg, where the cut is easier, we would see him weighing in tomorrow and deciding then about whether he can go. 

If I’m right, I wish Zain would be more open about the weight cut issue, since it’s another arrow in the quiver to fight to get the 4 lost weight classes back.

With the Indian wrestler not making weight against Hildebrant, I think the time is right for UWW to make a hard push. The way only negative PR that wrestling took this Olympics was the horrors of the Indian weight cut, even having blood drawn to try to get down, and I think UWW has a chance to turn that blemish into a positive:  there is too much of a gap between weights which is resulting in unsafe weight cuts. 

Though the Indian is an obvious example, I highly suspect Zain is one too. It’s a 70kg guy going down to 65, and basically he needs to be in perfect health after day 1 to safely be able to make the arduous cut for day 2. That won’t happen all the time, and didn’t with Zain. 

Really hope Zain comes clean on his weight cut (if my assumption is on point) and that UWW brass seizes on these news stories to make a hard push to reinstate lost weights for 2028.

Edited by BAC
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Interviewed_at_Weehawken Big Brain

Interviewed_at_Weehawken

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19 minutes ago, ChickenWing said:

Just don't replace it with Lance Armstrong's blood

I think even replacing it with your own is a problem! Someone else’s is worse (and yes, endurance athletes have done this in the past)

@Le dukewhat does wada/ioc say about drawing blood for athletic putposes? Any idea? 

Edited by Interviewed_at_Weehawken
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