Watching the Olympic Games 2012: Wrestling
How it works
The men’s competition is split between the Greco-Roman and freestyle events, while the women compete only in the freestyle. In freestyle wrestling, use of all parts of the body is allowed but in Greco-Roman, use of the legs to make contact and use of the arms below the opponent’s waist is forbidden
Who’s hot
In the 120kg freestyle category Artur Taymazov from Uzbekisthan will be going for his third gold medal at his fourth Olympics. Canada’s Ohenewa Akuffo, the Commonwealth gold medalist at 72kg, will be a contender in the women’s freestyle
Home hopes
Leon Rattigan, who competes in the men’s freestyle event, is a rising star in the sport. He took bronze in the 96kg category at the Commonwealth Games and will hope to challenge at London 2012. Myroslav Dykun will also be hoping to build on the gold he won in the men’s 66kg Greco-Roman event at the Commonwealth Games
The road to London
- 12-18 Sep 2011 World Championships in Istanbul
- 25-29 Apr 2012 First international qualification tournament in Taiyuan
- 2-6 May Second international qualification tournament in Helsinki
The stage
The Excel centre in London’s Docklands will be the venue for all wrestling events. It will host a total of 13 Olympic and Paralympic sports
What they say
“It would mean so much for me and all the people that have put time and effort into helping me to have it pay off at London 2012″
Leon Rattigan, British wrestler
Did you know?
Before point scoring was introduced, matches continued until one wrestler was forced to the ground. At the Stockholm Games in 1912, Russia’s Max Klein and Finland’s Alfred Asikainen battled it out for 11 hours
Competition dates
5-12 Aug
Ticket prices
£20-£95
Tempted to be there? Sign up now
You can apply for Olympic tickets until 26 April. Visit www.tickets.london2012.com
