Big

Russian website is saying due to most top wrestlers having to cut 4-8 kilos to make scratch weight, there will be a 2 kilo allowance for Nationals. The reasoning is that there is no need to put extra stress on wrestlers just 2.5 months before Olympics.

quick_single

That's crazy! Sounds a bit arrogant IMO.

supertac

that's the russian mentality. They hate excessive weight cutting.

arm-spin

Doubt it takes 2 1/2 months to recover from a weight cut

Big

Its the whole thing together with making weight and wrestling at Nationals. Don't forget Russian nationals are harder to win than Olympics so these guys will have to wrestle essentially at two Olympics in 3 months.

Yazdani

Come on now Big. I realize its difficult but there really is competition outside of Russia. Some other countries like Turkey, U.S.A, Iran, Bulgaria, and Georgia really aren't that bad. I heard they even won some medals at the Olympics and World Championships a few times. Hopefully they'll get their acts together and put up some kind of competition for Mother Russia.

Big

Kudukhov/Otarsultanov, Batirov/Dudaev, murtazaliev/Saitiev, Ketoev/Sajidov, Muradov/Gatsalov. These guys could all potentially make Olympics finals. No other country can say that.

Big

Also, I suspect more wrestlers that were born and once trained in Russia will win medals than all other countries combined.

Turkey's and Georgia's best wrestlers once represented and trained in Russia.

pinartist

i have to go agree big on this one. 84 kg for example has 3 former world champions.

Yazdani

Its not that I don't agree with him, its just that he never shuts up about it and never gives other countries any respect (except fellow communists Cuba).

Big, what will you do if oneday the Caucasus countries (i.e. Daghestan, Chechnya, Ossetia) split off from Russia?