The International Olympic Committee proposed in February to remove wrestling from the Summer Olympic Games after 2016. Members of the IOC, who represent and promote the interests of the Olympic Movement in their countries and the Olympics in general, said other sports took priority over wrestling. The IOC said it is trying to add “a sense of relevance, modernity and youthfulness” to the Summer Games through the possible addition of wakeboarding, rock climbing or rollerblading. For some, the IOC’s proposal is controversial because of the impact this sport has had on the Olympics since its beginning. Wrestling was traditionally used to end wars and solve differences between ancient civilizations. The IOC has an opportunity to reverse its decision to drop wrestling in May and will make a final decision in September.This change could also affect high school wrestlers and their coaches. We asked some of them what they thought.
Dennis Bogumill
Wrestling coach Dennis Bogumill was unaware of the IOC’s proposal unitl two weeks ago, “We found out just before the state tournament. There was a petition in the front lobby for coaches, wrestlers, parents and fans to sign. It’s been such a staple for so long and so many countries are already established in the sport, so it’s a shame to lose the history-rich competition. It doesn’t require much equipment, space, money or expensive facilites. It’s universal, easy for everyone to understand and participate in. Wrestling hits at the heart of competiition because it’s a close, person-to- person contact sport. Wrestling has been slowly growing bigger, especially in the South. It has increased greatly over the last few years with three college opportunities in wrestling now. This decision will definitely affect these efforts to expand the sport. These new events are not as rewarding or universal. I don’t know if it’s guidlelines or research the committee or maybe it’s a lack of TV ratings which is lack of money or maybe they think the sport has become stale or lost a level of excitement.”
Ben Casado
Junior Ben Casado, who just completed his first year wrestling, said he doesn’t “think that the sport will be affected too much. Other sports have been removed and they have been just fine. I think they are thinking about cutting wrestling because it is a sport that people don’t really like to watch. The only type of wrestling that most people like to watch is ‘fake’ wrestling, like WWE and Raw. The wrestling in the Olympics is much different and not as many people enjoy watching it.”
Kyle Mitchell
Junior Kyle Mitchell, who has been wrestling for four years, said he is unsure about the IOC’s decision. “I think it is ridiculous because wrestling was one of the original Olympic sports. I have no idea why they decided to drop wrestling because I think it is one of the most athletic things you can do. I don’t think that the sport is going to be affected that much. There are still going to be students in high school who want to wrestle, and I think it will continue to grow. Most people are just going to be mad and confused about the decision because it doesn’t make a lot of sense.”
Luke Runyan
Senior Luke Runyan, who has been wrestling for five years and just finish second place in the state in his 195 lbs. weight class, is upset about the recent announcement. “I feel that it is a travesty to take wrestling out of the Olympics. Wrestling is an ancient sport that has been around since the Olympics originated. To take out this core sport would be really against the spirit of the games. It is an especially large blow to Georgia wrestling because so many people have been working to help develop the sport. Now it seems almost fruitless since anyone serious about wrestling now has ‘nowhere to go’.”
Austin Gilbert
Senior wrestling captain Austin Gilbert doesn’t believe the propasal will go through. “I believe that the sport is a big enough part of the world arena to make the panel reconsider erasing it as an Olympic event. As a wrestler, just knowing it was proposed makes me feel a little upset that the world’s oldest sport still does not get recognition in the world’s eye. If this proposal were passed, I do not believe that it would affect the traditional or folk-style at all, but I believe that freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling will have an uprise in supporters and that there will be many more tournaments to substitute for being put out of the Olympics. I believe that removing wrestling would be the wrong desicion because it would upset so many countries who may specialize in the sport like Russia,Slovenia, Macedonia, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, and Bosnia . This would create tension in a sporting event that is meant to bring together nations for a peaceful sporting event. I think this is proposed because wrestling is not generally a highly watched sport, and even if it were, there are many rules that make this sport even more complex and harder to understand.”
Trey Wall
Junior Trey Wall, who has been wrestling for five years, said, “The amount of work that the wrestlers put in is ridiculous. Wrestling is one of the original sports from the ancient Greek Olympics. This could definitely hurt the sport and the recognition it gets.”
Jacob Neils
Junior Jacob Neils has been wrestling for five years. He said he believes that “fewer people will be interested in joining the sport. I think it is really unfair to Olympic medalists because this is their career, so they are pretty much losing their jobs.”