Wrestling: Then and now

Wrestling can be traced as far back as human records go. There is evidence of its early existence in ancient Egyptian wall paintings.

In ancient Greece, 2,000 years later, it was among the most popular events at the original Olympic Games.

The sport has taken many forms over its long history. Different versions have flourished in different areas of the world.

How to play – and win

Wrestling is a grappling sport - the aim is to force your opponent to the ground. Matches take place on a mat, and last for three periods of two minutes, with a 30-second break in between.

There are two styles of Wrestling at the Games: Greco-Roman and Freestyle. In Freestyle, competitors can use all parts of their body to do moves and holds. In Greco-Roman, use of the legs to make contact is forbidden.

Wrestling at the Games

Greco-Roman Wrestling was an event at the first modern Games in Athens 1896. The organisers hoped it would give a flavour of the ancient Greek Olympic Games, where the sport had been very popular.

Freestyle was introduced by public demand at the St Louis 1904 Games. Women had to wait another 100 years to compete in Wrestling, at Athens 2004.

Facts about Wrestling

• Before point scoring was introduced, matches continued until one wrestler was finally forced to the ground. At Stockholm 1912, Russia’s Max Klein and Finland’s Alfred Asikainen set an Olympic Games record with a match that lasted 11 hours.
• At Tokyo 1964, Japan’s Osamu Watanabe ended his career undefeated by winning his 186th consecutive match to claim the Olympic gold medal.
• Freestyle Wrestling was brought into the Games because it was very popular as entertainment at fairs and festivals in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Jargon buster

• Body lock: A hold where a wrestler locks arms around the body of his opponent before taking him to the mat.
• Bridge: The arched position a wrestler adopts to avoid his back touching the mat.
• Arm throw: A move where the wrestler throws his opponent over his shoulder by using his arm.
• Takedown: To take an opponent from a standing position to the ground.
• Pin: To force an opponent‘s shoulders to the ground to stop and win the match.
  

Get involved

You can start Wrestling from the age of eight. British Wrestling is the best place to go for all the info you’ll need to get started (see 'related websites').