Interviewed_at_Weehawken

I wrestled in an excellent club (many world team members, several Olympic and world medals) way back when. Times were different, but my excellent coach advocated for 20+ international matches per year. I think he actually may have said 30. Not sure our guys still need 30, but maybe a few more than zero? I recently listened to Kendall Cross talking about making the Olympic team in 92. He definitely thought our top guys hadn’t wrestled enough that year and all were flat in trials. He personally wrestled over 20 matches that year and upset world finalist Penrith (who may have had zero).

Hahaha You really think Micic cheated weight in front of every other 57 kg in the world? Twice? And criteria losses don’t count?

Except the betting lines were American gambling sites and influenced by Americans who put money heavily into all US wrestlers. Disproportionately. Very few “in the know” people, especially outside the US, would pick Lee over Higuchi. But heaven forbid we examine it a little deeper. Same sites had Dake at more than -1000. Anyone who watched his run last year knew that was absurd. But technically you’re not “wrong. “

The fact that he had five matches, all against beasts and everyone else only had 4? Did the refs put Japan on his back there?

Apparently you’re not that impressed? How about Zhamalov having to wrestle 5 matches to win?

My +550 came through!

To be fair, I’m often confused by Kyle when he talks.

I think heavyweight is the only weight class where there’s any chance all medalists tend to look legitimately happy to be there. Taha was great on the heavyweight podium in Tokyo. Heavys are just a different breed.

He was fine on the podium, no?

Bro, your NLWC anti Iowa shtick is so tired.

Thanks for the article. I think the situation was similar with Yoel Romero, but he’s allowed to return now… he just has to give the Cuban government a percentage of his earnings. There was a time when he wasn’t allowed back. I’m sure every situation is unique

A lot of this is true, but Yianni has also lost to Tevanyan and I’ve not seen him against 2023 Muskaev. Yianni also seems to have a weight issue and that won’t get better by 2028. He may be eliminated by not having an ideal Olympic weight, unfortunately.

I agree. Cuba has been better about this in recent years. They have been letting athletes leave as long as they pay a significant tax to the Cuban government. I’m sure it’s more complicated than that, but my understanding (from Yoel Romero and baseball players) is that the policy has changed…

I think Russians DO feel the same way. There was some blowback after Russian underperformance in 2023.

Uguev has won maybe three international matches since Tokyo and has lost two. 3-2 record or something similar. Definitely not a favorite. He was fun in his prime though.

I think a lot of these (like the Georgian wrestling for Ukraine) are results of the USSR being one nation for decades and movement of ethnic groups within that nation, a lot of it forced by Stalin and his successors Certainly one of Putins motivations for the invasion of Ukraine is the large number of ethnic Russians in Ukr at a time when “Russians” are making up a smaller and smaller percentage of their population.

What a silly comment by you ! Zamalov doesn’t rep Russia, is in the tournament and was getting the best of Sidakov in training. How is Zamalov, relevant to this argument Uguev was 5th in world last year, as was saduleev. Uguev has won maybe 3 international matches since Tokyo. Mamedov was injured and can’t compete. Saduleev was 5th last year and is coming off neck surgery. Silky, silly boy.

My guess is that the Chilean HWT actually lives in Chile. Does it make a difference? I’m not sure, but it’s an interesting fact. How many “Russian expats” actually live in the nations they represent? Zero?

I would have liked to have seen Spencer win, but i honestly thought higuchi was better. I would have liked Spencer to attack more, for sure. Regardless, i thought they had a good game plan. Controlled center. Was in line to get a possible passivity point. Also eliminated higuchis two greatest weapons: his dingle and his par terre. it came down to one scramble position that was winnable for either, but higuchi came out on top. im most concerned with USA lack of par terre offense outside of Lee and occasionally a fake gut wrench.

Russia. Russia. Russia. Way too much being made about the absence of Russia. Russia is Sidakov and a bunch of returning 5ths. Not much more.

15. Cadet eligible.

Back to the original topic: it just occurred to me that this coach is the owner of “wrestling prep,” which is a strange pseudo scientific wrestling training program. Basically a gymnastics and tumbling course. I’m all for tumbling. It’s great warmup and great body awareness, etc. Not a problem with that, whatsoever. However, the belief she pushes is these exercises turn you into a champ. A while back, a local program brought her in to do a few early season practices. The team had amazing warmup routines with hand springs and back flips. However, they didn’t know a penetration step or how to get in referees position. Meanwhile, they strongly believed they were better wrestlers, despite not having the results to back it up. Almost cultish. My take is that this woman is a major self-promoter. That’s fine, but take everything coming from her with a grain of salt. Elor prob went to a couple days of her clinics years ago , and Ms. Wester now takes credit for being her coach. Also… not sabermetrics at all. Just tumbling.

That is my understanding. Gables dad stepped in, ended the situation, and they sent Bobby.

Hes more of a CEO. Guys have their own personal coaches. You don’t change that up for the Olympics or any other tournament.

I heard Mack Gable was sickened by what he was seeing and eventually told those in charge to send Bobby.