How are Wrestlers Selected for the Olympics Based on Weight? Check All the Details Here!

Indian wrestling prodigy Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from the finals for weighing 100 grams over the permitted weight limit, sparking controversy and debate on the importance of strict weight rules in wrestling.

So, to help you understand how Olympic wrestlers are selected, here are the steps of the selection process:

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Learn about Olympic wrestling weight classes

According to Article 7 of the World Wrestling Federation, each competitor, who is considered to be a voluntary participant and responsible for his own participation, is allowed to compete in only one weight class: the weight class corresponding to his weight at the official weigh-in.

For the older age groups, competitors may choose to compete in one weight class above their body weight, with the exception of the heavyweight category, which requires competitors to weigh more than 97 kg in freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling and more than 72 kg in women’s wrestling.

There are 18 categories in each wrestling category:

Men’s Freestyle	Men’s Greco-Roman	Women’s Freestyle
57 kg	55 kg	50 kg
61 kg	60 kg	53 kg
65 kg	63 kg	55 kg
70 kg	67 kg	57 kg
74 kg	72 kg	59 kg
79 kg	77 kg	62 kg
86 kg	82 kg	65 kg
92 kg	87 kg	68 kg
97 kg	97 kg	72 kg
125 kg	130 kg	76 kg

Weigh-in rules for the 2024 Paris Olympics

The recent disqualification of Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who qualified for the Paris Olympics in the 50kg freestyle category but was later disqualified for being overweight, has sparked debate about the fairness of sporting rules.

However, at the last check, she was 2 kg overweight and was told to cut down before the competition. Just before the competition today, she cut down to 1.5 kg but was still considered ineligible because she was 100 grams overweight.

This incident has raised questions about the strictness of the enforcement of the sport’s rules and their impact on athletes’ careers. Therefore, according to Rule 11 of the World Wrestling Federation:

Weighing time

• Wrestlers must weigh in every morning according to their specific weight class.
• The initial weighing and medical control session lasted 30 minutes.
• On the second day, the players participating in the revival round and finals will have 15 minutes to weigh in.

qualified

• Any wrestler who fails to meet the weight requirement on any given day will be disqualified.
• No leniency will be granted for minor overweight cases.

Weighing Clothing

• Wrestlers must wear tights during weigh-ins, and no weight is deducted for tights.

Multiple attempts

• Wrestlers may step on the scale multiple times during their designated weigh-in time.

Physical examination

• A physical examination is mandatory on the morning of the first day of competition.
• Wrestlers who have not completed their physical examination will not be allowed to participate in the weigh-in.

Article 15: Elimination of Competition

Elimination and ranking:

• Losers will be eliminated and ranked according to classification points, except for the losers in the finals; they will enter the repechage match for 3rd or 5th place.

Confiscation:

• If a wrestler misses a match without a valid medical certificate, he/she will be forfeited, eliminated, and will not be counted in the ranking. The opponent will automatically win the match.

Simulated damage:

• If a wrestler is found to have faked an injury to avoid competing, they will be disqualified, ranked last, and marked with a “Dsq.”

Unsportsmanlike Conduct:

Wrestlers who cheat, make egregious mistakes, or behave in a rowdy manner will be immediately disqualified and eliminated by unanimous decision. They will be ranked last and marked “DSQ”.

Double Disqualification:

• If two wrestlers are disqualified for violent conduct in the same match, both are eliminated. The pairings remain the same for the next round, and the opponent of the disqualified wrestler automatically wins.

Semi-final disqualification:

• If two semifinalists are disqualified, the losers of their quarterfinals will advance to the semifinals, thus affecting the repechage bracket.
• If the semi-finals are held in the evening, the matches will be played at the end of the first day, and there will be one hour of preparation time.

Medal Match Disqualifications:

• If a disqualification occurs in a medal match (1-2 or 3-5), the other wrestlers will move up in the rankings.
• If both finalists are disqualified, the two bronze medalists will compete for first and second place.
• The fifth ranked wrestler will move up to the third spot.

Ranking after disqualification:

• Any wrestler who forfeits or is disqualified will be placed last with no ranking.

in conclusion

The Indian government and many sports fans were unhappy that Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from the Olympics for being overweight. But the World Wrestling Federation set these weigh-in rules to ensure fair competition and maintain the integrity of the sport.

Under these rules, wrestlers weigh in two days before a competition and must remain within their weight class each day to qualify for the competition.

A total of 288 wrestlers will compete in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, including 192 men and 96 women. This is the same number as the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The individual competition will be held over seven days from August 5 to 11 at the Arena de la Champ de Mars in Paris, and the medal competition will last for six days.

Source: https://dinhtienhoang.edu.vn
Category: Optical Illusion