The announcement triggered the international "Save Olympic Wrestling" movement, which raised more than $5 million, launched press awareness events on five continents, and led to leadership changes which would drive a fundamental restructuring of the sport. As we can clearly see today their decision is a watershed moment in the story of man's oldest and greatest sport.
To avoid exclusion wrestling was asked to make big, structural changes. There was a request made to become more gender equitable, leading to 6-6-6, a clear and equal distribution of weight categories among the styles. Rules were also overhauled, including the removal of the ball draw and the reintroduction of the two-point takedown (yes, step outs and takedowns were once equally scored!). For years the IOC had complained they were too complicated, and the sport made too boring -- turns out they were right.
During the nine-month campaign wrestling fans who were more focused on their traditional styles were suddenly privy to live streaming events, competition photos, a revamped website, updated results, and behind-the-scenes videos. The sport which once competed as though it were alone in a dark closet, suddenly had the confidence to take center stage.
Wrestling also elected a new president. Nenad Lalovic oversaw improved relationships with the IOC and sought its funding to ensure that more nations could participate in a larger number of events.
No question, what happened seven years ago left its mark on the sport. The emotional turmoil was real, but so are the positive results: more athletes, from more nations, competing more often and for more attention and funds.
Our sport is far from perfect, but with good governance has come the opportunity to grow and adapt. We won't be able to predict the future, but the structure and leadership in place today makes it possible for us to look back fondly on those stress-filled 254 days and realize that the exclusion and fight to get back in made us stronger and helped shape and improve the lives of millions of young men and women.
To your questions …
J'den Cox at the 2019 World Championships in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Q: What do you think of J'den Cox going up to 97 kilograms?
-- Brian N.
Foley: After months of speculation, J'den Cox took to YouTube to announce his decision to compete at 97 kilograms for the 2020 Olympic cycle. The choice to go up and face five-time world and Olympic medalist Kyle Snyder was somewhat surprising to some fans since Cox isn't a large 92-kilogram wrestler and had won bronze at 86 kilograms during the 2016 Olympic Games.
I won't make any predictions on who will win the spot because I think it's important to see first how Cox looks up at 97 kilograms. I will say that (as with David Taylor) going to 86 kilograms it's vital that Cox maintain his lean muscle. He's far too close to meaningful competition to try to add muscle to his frame. While he can add the muscle, his body won't know how to oxygenate the new mass for some time. For that reason, he's better off wrestling 97 kilograms while weighing in a few pounds lighter than he is to put on weight, or even compete at a walking around weight.
The other feedback from wrestling fans has been to moan about there not being a 92-kilogram weight in the Olympic Games, nor enough weight classes overall. While I'm sure it would be nice to have a few more weights, remember that there are a full 30 weights up for grabs in three out of four years (all 30 if there is a non-Olympic World Championships), and that the IOC pays an exorbitant amount of money to the international federation for their participation in those Olympics. Given any other name I think most wrestling fans would agree that receiving $20mm (cash, support, and in-kind) for participation in a two-week event every four years is a pretty sweet deal. Add in that the alignment with the Olympics is what funds a vast majority of wrestling programs via National Olympic Committees who value earning medals at the event.
More is better, sure. But what we have we can expand and what we put out on the mat can continue to improve. Case in point is Cox vs. Snyder. The United States will win a medal at 97 kilograms and because Cox has gone up those chances are only improving since the national competition will force our best to train even harder and with more focus.
Cox is a role model in the sport and a fantastic competitor. No matter the outcome of the match, it's inspiring to see him challenge himself and push the sport to the next level.
Q: What were your takeaways from Helen Maroulis' return to competition? Assuming she makes the Olympic team, what is her path to another Olympic gold?
-- Mike C.
Foley: Helen! I was thrilled to see our Olympic champion back on the mat and competing with gusto. Helen is a self-aware, emotional competitor who wrestles with her heart on her singlet. Sometimes that's beneficial and other times it's hurt her performance. As of late, she seems to be having a more positive experience.
Helen's path to Olympic gold isn't terrible. Risako Kawai is the world champion at 57 kilograms but has looked subpar in her last several international appearances. Ningning Rong of China is strong and among the world's toughest competitors, but she's also very beatable. Odunayo of Nigeria has given Helen problems in the past, but she's someone Helen has beaten and can beat again.
The scarier wrestlers might be Anastasia Nichita of Moldova and Pooja Dhanda of India. Both are limited in the arsenal of moves, but they strike in a hiccup and are incredibly physical. If Helen goes out flat, she's at risk of being put in a bad position.
Winning two gold medals is outrageously hard no matter the person, year, or situation. Even money, I'll take Helen to win a medal in Tokyo.
Like most wrestling fans, I'm ready to cheer for her success in Ottawa and beyond.
MULTIMEDIA HALFTIME
Victory & Defeat: Greco-Roman Highlights from European Championships
Cox explains choice to go up to 97 kilograms
Q: So many competitive weights at the Olympic Trials. Who do you see as the safest bet to make the team in each of the three styles?
-- Mike C.
Foley: Safest bet to make Team USA and be qualified for the Olympic Games in each style.
Freestyle is David Taylor. He's the best wrestler in the weight by a pretty large margin and will probably qualify the weight next month in Ottawa.
Women's wrestling is Adeline Gray. She's qualified the weight, is the two-time defending world champion, and won't have a significant challenge at the Olympic Team Trials.
Greco-Roman is a bit more difficult. Maybe Ellis Coleman. The 67-kilogram weight class is pretty cleared out for him since Ismael Borrero Molina is qualified and there aren't any Cuban ex-pats competing in Ecuador, Brazil, or Venezuela. He'd still need to keep his spot at the qualifiers, but when you look at other weights it's even less certain.
Adam Coon has an enormously difficult bracket. He's lost to Chile and Venezuela, and the Brazilian is an Armenian who is also pretty good. The margins are so thin in Greco and at heavyweight that there are no guarantees. However, if he qualifies the weight, I feel confident he can hold on to the starting spot.
Q: Did you see Mark Branch's comments on team-point deductions and yelling at officials? Do you agree or disagree?
-- Mike C.
Foley: He's right. No referee should have the right to deduct a team point during a dual meet competition. The matches are already very tight, and one match can swing the team score in wild directions. If a coach or athlete acts inappropriately, they should be warned via a yellow and red card system, with red cards being ejections. Add a small fine to ensure that coaches don't blow past the red card and you'll be sure to see better behavior mat side.
If the NCAA wants to maintain point deductions as a deterrent, then they need to have incredibly tight language on what is and is not allowed to be said or done mat side. Also, the calls must be up for review since it's highly consequential and many times there are misinterpretations that lead to these deductions.
Coaches can certainly chill out a bit, but that will also come with better oversight and direction on what they can and cannot say/do on the mat.
COMMENT OF THE WEEK
By Jon G.
I got to watch Penn State wrestle Wisconsin on Friday night (on TV). Congrats to BTN on great coverage and solid announcing, such a good thing for wrestling overall. Some very fun matches to watch. One thing I was struck by though was broad inconsistencies in how top wrestling was officiated and called (or more importantly not called) for stalling.
At 125 pounds, it turned into the classic buc'em bronco boring ride out. The wrestler from Wisconsin hung on a claw/spiral ride with no attempt to risk leaving parallel or to work any turns or pinning combinations. The official barely commented, and there was at most one warning of stalling. This was a prime situation in my mind to be starting these guys back on their feet for inaction, or for properly calling stalling on the top wrestler.
At 141 pounds, Nick Lee put on a clinic of top wrestling that was impressive to watch. Only a few guys I've seen over the years were that vicious (Jesse Jantzen, J Jaggers, Derek Moore, Kyle Dake, Zain Retherford). He worked the angles, and clearly was trying to work to score points and pin every second on top. He was never warned for stalling, and should not have been. Then at 165 pounds, Vincenzo Joseph put together an impressive match and majored Evan Wick, and was working hard on top ... yet the official repeatedly was telling both wrestlers to keep working and improving, while they clearly already were.
All told I finished watching the meet blown away at how inconsistently the exact same position was called in just one dual meet, and how that made for an inconsistent and confusing viewing experience. And that's coming from someone with over 25 years of experience with the sport. For a lay-viewer I'd imagine that their understanding of what should or should not be called as stalling on the mat would be muddled at best. There's a lot of talk here about improving the rules, which I've commented on agree with needs to happen, but equally, how do we improve consistency in officiating to thus incentivize the wrestlers to adhere to the spirit of the rules and not just the letter.
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