Olympics Cutting Wrestling

Olympics: Cutting Wrestling

A recent announcement from the International Olympics Committee has sparked much debate due to the committee choosing to cut wrestling, Olympics first sport from the Olympic Games in 2020. The decision to cut wrestling, a sport most beloved by the Ancient Greeks was due to the IOC wanting to open up space for new sports to enter the Olympics. However, many feel this cut is a bad decision, including those in the professional wrestling business.

“I do not agree with removing the first sport from the Olympics,” said Jasmine Skeans McDevitt, a professional wrestler from Kent, Ohio known as Selena. “Being from a wrestling family, with children who want to be Olympic gold medalists in wrestling and know many adult wrestlers, this is an insult to all sports driven people.”

Ryan Katz, a professional wrestler more famously known as GQ Money and host of Afterbuzz TV Raw from Burbank, California also shared his views on the issue.

“When I woke up and heard that wrestling would be cut from the Olympics, I was shocked and saddened,” said Katz. “The Olympics is the ultimate goal for amateur wrestlers, and the pinnacle of what we work hard for, sacrifice for and dedicate our lives to. Wrestling made me the man I am today, teaching me discipline, persistence, dedication, perseverance, hard work, strength, honor, pride and so many more qualities that have allowed me to live a successful life. The IOC has become a dream crusher to thousands, if not tens of thousands of individuals who have pursued, or are pursuing the epic dream of becoming an Olympian.”

Mario Konanski, a professional wrestling referee from La Puente, California agrees.

“Wrestling is a test of strength and skills,” said Konanski.  “It’s better than boxing yet boxing is still there.”

Yyan Wohosky, a professional wrestler known as Yyan Nakoma from Hesperia, California thinks that the IOC will come to regret this decision.

“When it comes to the IOC, their decision is so shocking and ridiculous that I can't quite form a civilized opinion on it because it all just doesn't seem like it could ever be reality,” said Wohosky. “It’s my opinion that this decision will not stick because while they may think they are in touch with their Olympic athletes, I feel they are out of touch with everyone else in the world . Whether the IOC believes it or not, so many other sports like MMA and pro wrestling have their roots in amateur wrestling. People who perform in these sports and their fans will show enough support that the IOC will have to realize it’s made such a bad decision.”

The cutting of wrestling from the Olympics will cause problems for both genders wanting to compete as the female competition in the Olympics has existed since 2004.

Professional wrestlers are not the only people upset by the IOC’s decision. Fans of both wrestling and the Olympics are also speaking out on the matter.

“I don't think it's smart since there are a lot of competitors for it,” said Nicole Smith, an amateur wrestler from Cincinnati, Ohio. “It's been around for a long time. The only reason they are doing it is because it doesn't make them enough money which is dumb.”

“I don't see how or why that would be a good idea,” said Kristi Graydon, a Cedarville University sophomore from Arlington, Ohio. “Athletes spend every day of their lives training to compete in these games and cutting this sport would be devastating to them.”

“I don't follow the Olympics too much but I think it’s a shame,” said Sean McCartney of Spokane Valley, Washington. “It goes back 120 years plus this is the ultimate goal for the amateur wrestler these days as the pro wrestling is a totally different ball game.”

“I was shocked when I heard that the IOC is going to eliminate wrestling from the Olympics after the 2016 game in Rio,” said Angel Barragan, Jr. of Los Angeles, California. “Greco Roman wrestling was an Olympic staple just like weightlifting, baseball & track & field.  To just get rid of it isn't right.”

Barragan went on to say what sports he thinks should stay and go in the Olympics.

“What the IOC needs to do is eliminate the extreme sports since they have their own version of the Olympics every year on ESPN,” said Barragan. “I’m sad because wrestling was one of my favorite sports since the 1984 game in Los Angeles.  I hope the IOC finds a way to keep it because it’s not fair that sports like baseball, softball and wrestling are being eliminated.”

Cedarville University’s Athletic Department also spoke out on this shocking news.

“I’m definitely surprised,” said Alan Geist, Athletic Director. “One of the biggest things watched is wrestling so some may not tune in as much.”

“It's disappointing when any organization begins to strip away parts of its foundation,” said Mark Womack, Sports Information Director. “As I understand it, wrestling was part of the first Olympics in 1896 and has been a constant throughout history. Tradition is one thing that makes sports what it is and wrestling in the Olympic Games is one tradition that doesn't need to be tampered with."