Big

Just read an article on the Russian website. They are going region by region, city by city, town by town and evaluate past and present traditions to build and expand wrestling training centers. The money is there and the will is there too.

spartansd

The USA seems to be getting some organization going in the Free and Greco teams.

While in the past it seemed the USA would have a couple of good/great wrestlers on the team, it seems there is a real focus to build a good/great team from top to bottom. So I am not sure how Russia seems to be more focused (is that possible?) while the USA would not gain ground. I think with the help of these Olympics and the focus that an 18 year old will bring to the sport I would say that the USA may be the team that will be making the biggest strides in the coming years.

Big

Among other things, American wrestlers wrestle FR/GR only a few months per year between ages 14-22.

This is a serious effort by the Russians. When I say they are building training centers I don't mean 2 days per week in the spring with a volunteer coach. I mean fully equipped wrestling rooms with year around training 4-5 days per week, with full-time coaches, with all expenses paid by the government and private donors traveling to tourneys and monetary compensation for good performances at tournaments. Also, they will provide room and board to bring together good partners to each club.

PS this is not just for senior wrestlers. This is a grass root program from about 10 years old and up.

chessplayer

This is why Russia is way better. In the USA there is hardly any place to train full time Free or Greco besides the OTC. The OTC only invites FOLK college stars. There is almost nothing from the bottom up. Henry got very luck and I think Cejudo is the way to go. Interesting he had Sergei in Pheonix (great Russian) and went to OTC. He has already accomplished way more than most college NCAA champs can dream of. Think of how many more Cejudo's the USA could have! If we had more year round free training centers. Many parts of the USA do not have the coaches Cejudo had, some town their is no kids program and the high school coach didn't even wrestle.