Russia Unhappy with Plans to Strike Wrestling from 2020 Olympics - East Idaho News
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Russia Unhappy with Plans to Strike Wrestling from 2020 Olympics

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Getty 021413 Wrestling?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1360865198698iStockphoto/Thinkstock(MOSCOW) — The International Olympic Committee’s plans to remove wrestling from the 2020 Olympics has drawn widespread criticism, and now it has drawn an appeal from Russia.

Russia has historically performed well in wrestling events, and some Russian commentators have suggested that the move to strike the event was politically motivated. Alexander Karelin, Russia’s Greco-Roman wrestling legend, said Russia’s dominance in the sport was the only reason it has been removed from the games.

In the 2012 London Olympics, 11 of Russia’s 82 medals came in wrestling events. Russia was also awarded 11 of the 72 total wrestling medals in the London Olympics.

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