Wrestling made its debut at the first modern Olympic Games in 1896.International Olympic Committee: Freestyle Wrestling History Male wrestlers compete for medals in seven freestyle events and seven Greco-Roman events, while female wrestlers compete in four freestyle events.Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games: Wrestling
Wrestling at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Wrestling events at the 2008 Summer Olympics were held from August 12 to August 21, 2008, at the China Agricultural University Gymnasium. Russia led all nations in wrestling medals, winning 11. Japan followed with six total medals, while the Ukraine and Kazakhstan won five each. The U.S. Olympic wrestling team won one gold and two bronze medals.NBC Olympics: Wrestling - 2008 Medals Standings By Nation
History
Wrestling medals have been awarded to athletes at every Summer Olympics since 1896, with the exception of the 1900 Summer Games in Paris, France. Women's freestyle events were introduced at the 2004 Summer Games in Athens, Greece.International Olympic Committee: Freestyle Wrestling History
About the Events
In Greco-Roman events, athletes are not allowed to use their legs for holds, lifts or to trip an opponent. Athletes also may not attack an opponent below the waist in Greco-Roman events. In freestyle events, athletes may use their entire bodies for attacks and holds.NBC Olympics: Wrestling Basics
Men's Weight Classes
- 55 kg (121 lbs)Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games: Wrestling
- 55-60 kg (121-132 lbs)Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games: Wrestling
- 60-66 kg (132-145.5 lbs)Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games: Wrestling
- 66-74 kg (145.5-163 lbs)Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games: Wrestling
- 74-84 kg (163-185 lbs)Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games: Wrestling
- 84-96 kg (185-211.5 lbs)Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games: Wrestling
- 96-120 kg (211.5-264.5 lbs)Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games: Wrestling
Women's Weight Classes
- 48 kg (105.5 lbs)Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games: Wrestling
- 48-55 kg (105.5-121 lbs)Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games: Wrestling
- 55-63 kg (121-138.5 lbs)Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games: Wrestling
- 63-72kg (138.5-158.5 lbs)Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games: Wrestling
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2008 Olympic Wrestling Medal Winners
| Men's Greco-Roman Wrestling | |||||||
| Event | Gold Medal | Silver Medal | Bronze Medal | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 kg (121 lbs) | Nazyr Mankiev - Russia | Rovshan Bayramov - Azerbaijan | Roman Amoyan - Armenia and Park Eun-Chul - South Korea | ||||
| 55-60 kg (121-132 lbs) | Islam-Beka Albiev - Russia | Vitaliy Rahimov - Azerbaijan | Nurbakyt Tengizbayev - Kazakhstan and Ruslan Tiumenbaev - Kyrgyzstan | ||||
| 60-66 kg (132-145.5 lbs) | Steeve Guenot - France | Kanatbek Begaliev - Kyrgyzstan | Armen Vardanyan - Ukraine and Mikhail Siamionau - Belarus | ||||
| 66-74 kg (145.5-163 lbs) | Manuchar Kvirkelia - Georgia | Yongxiang Chang - China | Yavor Yanakiev - Bulgaria and Christophe Guenot - France | ||||
| 74-84 kg (163-185 lbs) | Andrea Minguzzi - Italy | Zoltan Fodor - Hungary | Nazmi Avluca - Turkey* | ||||
| 84-96 kg (185-211.5 lbs) | Aslanbek Khushtov - Russia | Mirko Englich - Germany | Asset Mambetov - Kazakhstan and Adam Wheeler - United States | ||||
| 96-120 kg (211.5-264.5 lbs) | Mijail Lopez - Cuba | Khasan Baroev - Russia | Mindaugas Mizgaitis - Lithuania and Yuri Patrikeev - Armenia | ||||
- *Ara Abrahamian of Sweden had won a bronze medal in the 74-84 kg (163-185 lbs) weight class. His medal was stripped by the International Olympic Committee after he protested and threw his medal.
| Men's Freestyle Wrestling | |||||||
| Event | Gold Medal | Silver Medal | Bronze Medal | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 kg (121 lbs) | Henry Cejudo - United States | Tomohiro Matsynaga - Japan | Besik Kudukhov - Russia and Radoslav Velikov - Bulgaria | ||||
| 55-60 kg (121-132 lbs) | Mavlet Batirov - Russia | Vasyl Fedoryshyn - Ukraine | Seyedmorad Mohammadi - Iran and Kenichi Yumoto - Japan | ||||
| 60-66 kg (132-145.5 lbs) | Ramazan Sahin - Turkey | Andriy Stadnik - Ukraine | Sushil Kumar - India and Otar Tushishvili - Georgia | ||||
| 66-74 kg (145.5-163 lbs) | Buvaysa Saytiev - Russia | Soslan Tigiev - Uzbekistan | Murad Gaidarov - Belarus and Kiril Terziev - Bulgaria | ||||
| 74-84 kg (163-185 lbs) | Revazi Mindorashvili - Georgia | Yusup Abdusalomov - Tajikistan | Taras Danko - Ukraine and Georgy Ketoev - Russia | ||||
| 84-96 kg (185-211.5 lbs) | Shirvani Muradov - Russia | Taimuraz Tigiyev - Kazakhstan | George Gogshelidze - Georgia and Khetag Gazyumov - Azerbaijan | ||||
| 96-120 kg (211.5-264.5 lbs) | Artur Taymazov - Uzbekistan | Bakhtiyar Akhmedov - Russia | David Musulbes - Slovakia and Marid Mutalimov - Kazakhstan | ||||
| Women's Freestyle Wrestling | |||||||
| Event | Gold Medal | Silver Medal | Bronze Medal | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48 kg (105.5 lbs) | Carol Huynh - Canada | Chiharu Icho - Japan | Mariya Stadnik - Azerbaijan and Irini Merleni - Ukraine | ||||
| 48-55 kg (105.5-121 lbs) | Saori Yoshida - Japan | Xu Li - China | Tonya Verbeek - Canada and Jackeline Renteria - Colombia | ||||
| 55-63 kg (121-138.5 lbs) | Kaori Icho - Japan | Alyona Kartashova - Russia | Yelena Shalygina - Kazakhstan and Randi Miller - United States | ||||
| 63-72 kg (138.5-158.5 lbs) | Wang Jiao - China | Stanka Zlateva - Bulgaria | Kyoko Hamaguchi - Japan and Agnieszka Wieszczek - Poland | ||||
References
Fast Facts
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Women's wrestling introduced at the 2004 Summer OlympicsInternational Olympic Committee: Freestyle Wrestling History
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Men's events
Seven freestyle, seven Greco-RomanOfficial Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games: Wrestling
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Women's events
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