Gilemard

Thank you @BobDole, I posted several days/weeks ago about removing non-wrestling related posts. I'm very happy that you have reprimanded these people since they are not interested in wrestling. If it is not controlled it will spiral out of control like it did on themat.

@BobDole If you still are admin please delete all non wrestling related messages from the past 2-3 days in this thread. We dont want to end up with the same shit show that happend during theMat forum days. Also there are plenty of political forums these guys can discuss politics in. Keep this froum for wrestling only.

Yes, I know that is why I wrote in my opinion. I think financial issues was a major factor for him retiring at 24.

I think the iranian goat is Rasoul Khadem. Mainly for two reasons, firstly he beat Makharbek Khadartsev to get his world and olympic gold medals. If Khadem hadn't won over Khadartsev he would be 7 times world champion and 3 times Olympic champion, i.e. he would be Buvaisar Saitiev level (All time GOAT). But because of Khadem he seldom makes GOAT lists. Secondly, after his 1996 Olympic gold Khadem retired at the age of 24 in my opinion because of financial reasons. Then in the 1998 world championship in Tehran there was no eligible 130 kg wrestler for Iran so the federation convinced Khadem to return after and wrestle two weights up from his original weight of 90 kg. Khadem won most matches easily until the final where the Cuban wrestler, Alexis Rodriguez, gamed planned him with the size difference resulting in a silver medal. The only other wrestler I can think of that has wrestled at a higher weight than their optimal with success is Gatsalov. For these two reasons I would put Khadem at the top of any iranian list.

I think you have made some mistakes. Iran has won 3 golds at 65/66 kg. Mehdi Taghavi in 2009 & 2011 and Rahman Amouzad in 2022.