If we could Double the Olympic Freestyle weights to 12---would you drop Greco?

[Former158]

Having multiple styles at the Olympic level does not help grow the fan base globally. I am in the camp that we should also adopt freestyle at the high school and collegiate level but that is a different topic. However, would you be willing to give up Greco if it meant we could double the weight classes for Freestyle at the Olympics? I would be in favor of slight rule changes like a clinch or others which would help the throwers---but wouldn't it be sweet to see the clash of styles all vying for the same spots, imagine the freestyle team below---I would imagine a 1-2 greco guys might break through with some tweaks to the rule.

57- Lee

60- Vito

63- Blaze/Gross/Fix/Mckenna

66- Lee

70- Yianni

74- Burroughs

78- Dake

83- Starocci

88- Zahid

92- Brooks

102- Snyder

120- Gable (hopefully he still competes)

[D3 for LU]

Nice thought... wish it could be so, but...

We, that is, American fans, don't look so well on G-R as does the rest of the world.

(For the most part... most overseas competition being held, especially if the host city/ nation where greco-roman  is popular, would hold that competition for last.)

D3

[okokzach]

I don't see why having different styles should hold the sport's popularity back. Track has all sorts of events. The 100m, 400m hurdles, relays, 1500m, steeplechase, and all the field events. All are super different from one another and have very different levels of popularity among fans. 

Edited Sunday at 06:29 PM by okokzach

[Caveira]

2 hours ago, okokzach said:

I don't see why having different styles should hold the sport's popularity back. Track has all sorts of events. The 100m, 400m hurdles, relays, 1500m, steeplechase, and all the field events. All are super different from one another and have very different levels of popularity among fans. 

What do you suppose the tv viewership was for wrestling vs track and field.   It’s probably not comparable.   That’s wrestling’s problem.  

[Hammerlock3]

yes

[Former158]

I can see the argument for track and field but honestly it is much easier to follow for the average viewer. Same with swimming. I don't need to be an expert in the rules for the 400 vs 800 meter to know who is winning. Wrestling has always been too complicated for the fan who hasn't competed. For instance, even most US wrestling fans don't know the strategies for greco vs freestyle vs collegiate.....it is time to have 1 style in my mind.

[shiraz321]

12 weights is over kill. 9 or 10 is good. Maybe keep them the same but get rid of 92 and adjust 86 and 97 accordingly. 

 

As for GR, credit to UWW. No clue how a unpopular sport with no women's division continues to survive in the olympics. The only sport in the games that women can not participate in. I'd be interested if anyone can shed some light on this. 

 

Unfortunately I think that if/when it finally does get cut, the weights wont go to FS, but to beach wrestling. 

[WrestlingRasta]

No

[AgaveMaria]

Olympic weights need to be the same as at the World Championships. No need for more, especially with the attitude of those in charge of Olympic events.

[Ragu]

TL;DR no

[CHROMEBIRD]

6 hours ago, shiraz321 said:

12 weights is over kill. 9 or 10 is good. Maybe keep them the same but get rid of 92 and adjust 86 and 97 accordingly. 

 

As for GR, credit to UWW. No clue how a unpopular sport with no women's division continues to survive in the olympics. The only sport in the games that women can not participate in. I'd be interested if anyone can shed some light on this. 

 

Unfortunately I think that if/when it finally does get cut, the weights wont go to FS, but to beach wrestling. 

Solid take. Agreed on all points. Now that synchronized/artistic swimming is co-ed, I think Greco is the only sport without an analogue for men & women. Wrestling gets by for now because of tradition, but Pankration and chariot racing were also events in the ancient Olympics; and wrestling during the first modern games in the late 19th century probably bares little resemblance to Greco today. Similarly, beach wrestling may one day become the de facto "wrestling" in the Olympics. Not saying I support this, just that it's not too difficult to imagine it happening.

[Ohio Elite]

Make it the 10 world weights, get rid of Greco-Roman? Yes please!

[mspart]

IOC has said that there will not be more medals given for wrestling.   Getting rid of GR would give 3 each more for FS and WFS.   But I agree they would include some other form of wrestling and negate the benefits.  It was a big deal for UWW to go against the IOC and offer 10 weights during off Olympic years and to off er the non olympic weights a WC of their own during an olympic year.   IOC wanted to get rid of wrestling and it was saved near the last minute. So I'm not for rocking the boat at this point. 

I personally have nothing against GR, but it is not very unwatchable anymore.  

mspart

Edited 8 hours ago by mspart

[Window12]

I prefer the free style but the recent GR European and Asian competitions had interesting and watchable matches…