YoungestToOldest

The Youngest/Oldest GR Gold Medalists in Olympic History

Monday, May 18, 2020 - 19:25 By Ikuo Higuchi

Share this article

(This is the last of a three-part series that appeared on the Japan Wrestling Federation website. It was translated for UWW by Ken Marantz.)

A Style Dominated by Europeans
Compared with the United States and Asia, where most wrestlers start the sport in freestyle, many in Europe start out in the sport as youth in Greco-Roman style. This can account for the fact that out of 196 gold medals awarded at the Olympics so far, 168 have gone to Europeans (170 if wrestlers from current Asian countries who competed for the Soviet Union are included). 

Even so, it took more than a century of Olympics before a teenager would bring home a gold. Islambek ALBIEV (RUS) broke through the barrier at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where he won the 60kg gold at 19 years 7 months 15 days. A world junior champion in 2006, Albiev added to his stature when he triumphed at both the European and World Championships the year after Beijing.

Albiev remains the lone teenager to win a Greco gold heading into the Tokyo Olympics, although such a feat might have more to do with timing than skill, given that the Olympics come only once every four years. A wrestler who is 16 or 17 in an Olympic year will likely never get a legitimate shot at a gold as a teenager (not that it really matters in the end if one wins a gold at 19 or 20; it is just being mentioned here for historical purposes). 

Take the case of legendary Hamza YERLIKAYA (TUR), who was just 17 years 3 months 16 days when he won the 82kg title at the 1993 World Championships. But his triumph at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics came 1 month 18 days after he had celebrated his 20th birthday. Yerlikaya would add another Olympic title in 2000 and world title in 2005 before going on to become a member of Turkey's Parliament.

The 1987 World Championships in Clermand-Ferrand produced a teenaged Greco champ in Pedro Favier ROQUE (CUB), who won the 52kg gold at 18 years 8 months 26 days. He would have still been 19 at the Seoul Olympics the following year, but it was not to be. Cuba, following the lead of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, did not participate in the Games in the south of the peninsula.

Comparatively, freestyle has eight Olympic champions who were in their teens or 20, while Greco has just half that number with four. Perhaps this shows how Greco relies more on experience to master. 

It looking at the oldest gold medalists, the world and Japanese media heralded the crowning of a 40-year-old champion at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Anatoli ROSCHTSCHIN (URS) was 40 years 6 months 0 days when he won the over-100kg crown. But there had been an older champion before that, back in the days before mass media. At the 1920 Antwerp Olympics, Adolf LINDFORS (FIN) was 41 years 6 months 12 days when he triumphed in the over-84kg class. And he certainly earned his medal--he won all five of his matches by fall, with his second-round victory take 23 minutes 43 seconds and his win in the final lasting a whopping 47 minutes 38 seconds. (In that era, the time limit for a match was reportedly 50 minutes.)

As in freestyle, the majority of champions on the oldest-ever list are in the upper weight classes. Of the top 15, the lone lightweight champions (68kg or lower) came in the pre-World War II era. Since the end of the war, there have been only six gold medalists aged 30 or over in the lightweight divisions, most recently Davor STEFANEK (SRB), who was 30 years 11 months 4 days when he won the 66kg gold at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

By the way, Japan has had four Greco champions in Olympic history. The youngest was Masamitsu ICHIGUCHI (JPN), who was 24 years 9 months 7 years when he took the 57kg gold at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. The oldest, 1984 Los Angeles Olympic 52kg champion Atsuji MIYAHARA (JPN), was 25 years 7 months 13 days on the day of his triumph.

Why am I bringing this up? If the upcoming Tokyo Olympics had been held as scheduled this summer, current world 60kg champion Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) could have broken Ichiguchi's record as youngest-ever by winning the gold on Aug. 3, when he will be 24 years 7 months 16 days. But with the Games postponed for year, Fumita instead has a chance to become the oldest-ever. The final is tentatively slated for Aug. 2, 2021, when Fumita will be 25 years 7 months 15 days--just two days older than Miyahara.

TOP 15 YOUNGEST OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS (GRECO-ROMAN)
Name                                                        Age                               Olympics                       Wt.    Date of birth
1. Islambek ALBIEV (RUS)                    19 years 7 months 15 days         2008 Beijing       60kg     1988/12/28

2. Hamza YERLIKAYA (TUR)             20 years 1 month 18 days         1996 Atlanta         82kg     1976/06/03

3. Suren NALBANDYAN (URS)           20 years 1 month 21 days         1976 Montreal       68kg     1956/06/03

4. Shazam SAFIN (URS)                       20 years 3 months 20 days      1952 Helsinki         67kg     1932/04/07

5. Alexandre KARELINE (URS)          21 years 0 months 2 days           1988 Seoul           130kg     1967/09/19

6. Varteres SAMURGASHEV (RUS)   21 years 0 months 13 days         2000 Sydney          63kg     1979/09/13

7. Boris GUREVICH (URS)                    21 years 4 months 4 days       1952 Helsinki          52kg     1931/03/23

8. Ji-Hyun JUNG (KOR)                        21 years 5 months 0 days       2004 Athens            60kg     1983/03/26

9. Alexander KOLTSCHINSKI (URS) 21 years 5 months 4 days           1976 Montreal    +100kg   1955/02/20

10. Khassan BAROEV (RUS)                 21 years 8 months 24 days      2004 Athens          120kg     1982/12/01

11. Roman VLASOV (RUS)                    21 years 9 months 30 days      2012 London           74kg     1990/10/06

12. Jouko SALOMAEKI (FIN)              21 years 11 months 7 days         1984 Los Angeles   74kg     1962/08/26

13. Schamil CHISAMUTDINOW (URS)  21 years 11 months 21 days   1972 Munich           68kg     1950/09/20

14. Henri DEGLANE (FRA)                    22 years 0 months 18 days      1924 Paris              +82kg     1902/06/22

15. Vincenzo MAENZA (ITA)                 22 years 2 months 30 days      1984 Los Angeles      48kg     1962/05/02

TOP 15 OLDEST OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS (GRECO-ROMAN)
Name                                                        Age                                       Olympics                        Wt.    Date of birth
1. Adolf LINDFORS (FIN)                   41 years 6 months 12 days          1920 Antwerp           +82kg     1879/02/08

2. Anatoli ROSCHTSCHIN (URS)      40 years 6 months 0 days            1972 Munich          +100kg     1932/03/10

3. Johannes KOTKAS (URS)               37 years  5 months 24 days          1952 Helsinki           +87kg     1915/02/03

4. Kaaro ANTTILA (FIN)                   36 years  10 months 10 days         1924 Paris                   62kg     1887/08/30

5. Carl WESTERGREN (SWE)           36 years  9 months 25 days          1932 Los Angeles      +87kg     1895/10/13

6. Claes JOHANSON (SWE)               35 years  9 months 16 days          1920 Antwerp           82.5kg     1884/11/04

7. Erik MALMBERG (SWE)                35 years  6 months 23 days          1932 Los Angeles        66kg     1897/01/15

8. Eemeli VAERE (FIN)                      34 years  10 months 23 days         1920 Antwerp          67.5kg     1885/09/28

9. Axel GROENBERG (SWE)             34 years  2 months 18 days           1952 Helsinki              79kg     1918/05/09

10. Mijain LOPEZ NUNEZ (CUB)     33 years  11 months 26 days          2016 Rio de Janeiro  130kg    1982/08/20

11. Ahmet KIRECCI (TUR)                33 years 9 months 10 days            1948 London              +87kg     1914/10/27

12. Ivar JOHANSSON (SWE)             33 years  6 months 9 days            1936 Berlin                    79kg     1903/01/31

13. Rudolf SVENSSON (SWE)            33 years  4 months 11 days           1932 Los Angeles          87kg     1899/03/27

14. Vaeinoe KOKKINEN (FIN)          32 years  8 months 13 days           1932 Los Angeles          79kg     1899/11/25

15. Valentin NIKOLAEV (URS)          32 years  8 months 0 days            1956 Melbourne            87kg     1924/04/06

#UnitedWorldWrestling

A decade since wrestling’s grapple back into Olympics

Friday, September 8, 2023 - 06:16 By United World Wrestling Press

Share this article

From left to right: Jim SCHERR (USA), Daniel IGALI (CAN), Lise LEGRAND (FRA), Carol HUYNH (CAN) and UWW President Nenad LALOVIC at the press conference during the 125th IOC Session in Buenos Aires in 2013. (Photo: IMAGO/AFLOSPORT)

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (September 8) -- Wrestling's World Championships enters the 102nd year next week and next year will mark another Olympic Games that will feature wrestling. But 10 years ago, wrestling was removed from the Olympic Programme.

In February 2013, the International Olympic Committee voted to remove wrestling from the 2020 Olympics. It took wrestlers from different nations coming together, led by Serbia's Nenad LALOVIC, to reverse an unthinkable result and to 'Save Olympic Wrestling'.

On September 8, 2013, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the full IOC membership welcomed the sport back to the programme with a first-round vote that left no doubt that wrestling belonged in the Olympic Games.

Wrestling's journey of finding itself back in the Olympics was marked by twists and turns, and, fittingly, resiliency.

 

The Decision

One of the original sports in the ancient Olympic Games, wrestling faced the critical assessment of the IOC which had expressed concerns about the growing size of the Summer Games and aimed to cap the number of athletes at approximately 10,500. The IOC also wanted to attract younger viewers to broaden the international television audience. There was also discontent over the lack of gender equality, having only introduced women's freestyle competitions in 2004.

When the decision of wrestling being dropped from the Olympic Gamesheadlined, United World Wrestling, then FILA, put in all efforts to revamp the sport. In a FILA Bureau meetingin Phuket, Thailand, Raphael Martinetti resigned as president and after a vote of the Bureau members. The Bureau nominated Lalovic as acting President.

"The world of wrestling is understandably disappointed by the IOC Executive Board’s recommendation to remove wrestling from the 2020 Olympic Games Programme," Lalovic said. "We see this as an opportunity which could be a positive turning point for our sport. One thing is for certain: it is our responsibility alone to address the issues that led to this situation. We are listening to the IOC’s concerns and learning from their guidance. We must strive to improve our sport’s Olympic offering in order to retain our position on the Olympic Programme and evolve with the times.

The Fight

What followed was an immediate and impassioned campaign that stretched from the United States and Russia to Iran and Japan. 

Armen NAZARYAN (ARM) and Sagid MURTAZALIEV returned their gold medals in protest, with Nazaryan also engaging in a hunger strike. London gold-medallist Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) used numerous public speaking appearances, countless interviews, and his Twitter account to promote the cause.

To address the concerns, UWW removed two men's weight classes and introduced two new classes for women starting from the 2016 Rio Olympics. This adjustment led to six weight classes each for Freestyle and Women's Wrestling while maintaining six in Greco-Roman.

Rule changes were also implemented to make the sport more engaging and dynamic. Instead of the previous format of three two-minute rounds, matches now consist of two three-minute rounds. This new structure aims to reward aggressive wrestling; takedowns, for example, are now worth two points instead of one. Additionally, matches are decided based on accumulated points, further encouraging active competition.

Campaigns were held in Russia, Iran, the United States and Japan. The first three countries came to New York City, united and determined to prove to the world that Wrestling belongs in the Olympics. The three competed in the “Rumble on the Rails” in the world-famous Grand Central Station.

While in New York, Lalovic attended a press conference at the United Nations. “We are dedicated to reforming our sport and making FILA a more proactive and responsible organization. We will do everything we can to address the IOC’s concerns and ensure that wrestling remains a part of the Olympic Games," he said.

Wrestlers from around the world also took a trip to – Olympia, Greece – the birthplace of the Olympic movement. Wrestlers from Albania, Brazil, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Iran, Russia and the United States, competed in the international tournament, which was run under the new rules passed by FILA.

IOC took notice and in its session in Buenos Aires, Argentina, it confirmed wrestling's spot in the Olympics.

"I want to offer my sincere gratitude to each member of the International Olympic Committee that voted to save Olympic wrestling today," Lalovic said. "With this vote, you have shown that the steps we have taken to improve our sport have made a difference. I assure each of you that our modernization will not stop now. We will continue to strive to be the best partner to the Olympic Movement that we can be."

In Ten Years

In the decade since wrestling's reinstatement to the Olympic Games, the sport has seen remarkable progress in its structure and reach. The governance of the sport underwent significant changes, with rule amendments aimed at making matches even more dynamic and engaging.

In 2016, there were ten weight classes for women in wrestling, up from four in 2004. This was a major step forward for the sport and has helped increase the visibility and popularity of Women's Wrestling. Who can forget Kaori ICHO’s (JPN) historic accomplishment of being the first ever wrestler, women or men, to obtain four Olympic gold medals!

Over the years, many countries have emerged as the best performers in Women's Wrestling including Japan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Moldova, India, Estonia, Kazakhstan, Turkiye and even Pan-Am countries.

The focus on gender equality has extended beyond merely adding women’s weight classes, as witnessed by UWW's projects and programs, such as special funding for female coaches and wrestlers and quotas for female referees and women working in key administrative positions.

Off the mat, there has been a concerted effort to globalize wrestling, and marketing and social media campaigns have effectively changed the sport's image and engaged younger fans. High-profile wrestlers have taken on ambassadorial roles, visiting schools, appearing on talk shows, and participating in public events to promote the sport. Online platforms are being utilized for live-streaming events and tutorials, making the sport more accessible.

Wrestling's growth is further marked by the acceptance of Beach Wrestling and more than 100 countries participating in the World Championships.

The athlete-focused approach aligned with the IOC's vision of the Olympic movement has allowed fans to be more connected to the sport. Wrestling has established itself as a leader in terms of engagement and continues to be ranked within the top ten in social media amongst all other International Federations.

The 10-year journey from near-elimination to triumphant return is a microcosm of the sport: a physical and metaphorical tussle where resilience is the key to victory. As a wrestler grapples, twists, and turns to win, the sport has shown its mettle by overcoming near defeat, reforming, and returning stronger.

Here’s to wrestling — a sport as ancient as it is contemporary, as diverse as it is specialized, and, most importantly, as resilient as the athletes who partake in it. Wrestling knows how to fight back and fight back it did.

Wrestling’s reinstatement to the Olympic Programme was a collective effort of the wrestling family all across the world. The dedication and tremendous work of key individuals that went into this result will never be forgotten by the wrestling community and will forever live on in wrestling folklore as some of the greatest stewards the sport has ever seen. Thank you.