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Top 5: Best Olympic Wrestlers of All Time

Let’s count down the top 5 Best Olympic Wrestlers of All Time. These are the greatest wrestlers in history…

Let’s count down the top 5 Best Olympic Wrestlers of All Time. These are the greatest wrestlers in history whose names really stand out in the history books. Olympic Wrestling has seen some incredible competition throughout the decades, these are just a few of the wrestlers who have risen to legendary status. These wrestlers have earned their status as one of the Best Olympic Wrestlers of All Time through the most challenging and oldest sport in the Olympics; Wrestling.

Best Olympic Wrestlers of All Time

Who are the best Olympic Wrestlers of all time? There are many names who could have qualified for this list, but these five have truly carved their place in wrestling history. These are the historic icons, here are the top 5 best Olympic Wrestlers of all time.

5. Ivar Johansson (Sweden)

Sweden’s Ivar Johansson competed nearly a century ago and is a legendary figure in Olympic wrestling. He won three Olympic gold medals in two styles and weight classes: freestyle middleweight and Greco-Roman welterweight in 1932, and Greco-Roman middleweight in 1936. Johansson was known for his versatility and skill in different disciplines. He also managed to earn a highly impressive nine European Championships throughout his career. His Olympic achievements and ability to compete in various weight categories, and styles, make him one of the sport’s all-time greats, easily one of the best Olympic Wrestlers of all time.

4. Aleksandr Medved (Soviet Union)

The Soviet-born Aleksandr Medved is a true wrestling icon. He won three Olympic gold medals in 1964, 1968, and 1972 across three different weight classes—a feat no one else has matched. Additionally, Medved also earned seven World Championships and three European Championships. Medved was inducted into the FILA International Wrestling Hall of Fame and named the best Belarusian athlete of the 20th century.

3. Buvaisar Saitiev (Russia)

Russia’s Buvaisar Saitiev in Khasavyurt is celebrated as one of the best freestyle wrestlers of all time. He snagged three Olympic gold medals in 1996, 2004, and 2008 in the 74 kg weight class. He was known for his technical brilliance on the mat. Over 13 years, he won nine out of eleven major tournaments he entered. Saitiev also boasts six World Championships and six European Championships. Despite battling a neck injury, he secured his final Olympic gold in 2008 before retiring.

2. Mijaín López (Cuba)

The Cuban giant is a modern-day legend, easily one of the best Olympic Wrestlers of all time, and a close pick for number one. Mijaín López Núñez is a Greco-Roman wrestling legend with an incredible four Olympic gold medals earned in 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020 in the super heavyweight class. At 1.98 meters tall, López dominated his weight class, often winning matches without letting his opponents score a single point. He’s also a five-time World Champion and a Pan American Games champ. His incredible consistency and skill make him one of the greatest wrestlers in Olympic history.

1. Aleksandr Karelin (Russia & Soviet Union)

For anyone who knows wrestling, this pick will not be a surprise. He is the greatest and best Olympic wrestler of all time. Aleksandr Karelin won three Olympic golds in 1988, 1992, and 1996, plus a silver in 2000 competing in the super heavyweight category. Karelin was famous for his signature move, the “Karelin Lift,” where he’d lift and slam his opponents. With an incredible 887 wins and just two losses, he was a true powerhouse, earning the nickname “The Experiment” for his unmatched strength. He is a legendary figure in the world of combat sports.

Honorable Mentions

In addition to the above best Olympic Wrestlers of all time, here are more who nearly made the list:

Artur Aleksanyan (USA)
Vladimer Khinchegashvili (Georgia)
Dan Gable (USA)
Elbrus Tedeyev (Ukraine)
Kim Hyeon-woo (South Korea)
Mavlet Batirov (Russia)
Saori Yoshida (Japan)
Jordan Burroughs (USA)

Badr Hari Speaks Out about Imane Khelif Gender Issues in Olympic Boxing

Morocco’s Badr Hari has weighed in on the ongoing furor of Imane Khelif, the Algerian Olympic boxer who has…

Morocco’s Badr Hari has weighed in on the ongoing furor of Imane Khelif, the Algerian Olympic boxer who has had her gender brought into question. Online personalities and pundits strongly believe that they had found a target for all of their transgender hostility, but ultimately it was misinformation meant to ignite bad-faith actors.

Imane Khelif

Imane Khelif is an Algerian amateur boxer who has competed in the 2020 and 2024 Olympic games. She has been in the Olympic testing pool for years and has never tested positive for increased testosterone in that time. The IBA suspended her for reasons that are unclear, but the IOC claims that the IBA did not follow due process through its actions. The Olympics do not use advice from the IBA as it is not considered a reputable organization and is often shrouded in controversy.

With an amateur record of 38-9, Imane Khelif qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. A story ran that torched online spaces and roused users into a frenzy. Ultimately, the Algerian boxer was born a woman and competes in women’s sports. It was misinformation. It is illegal in Algeria to be a trans person and any person who identifies as LGBTQ could be prosecuted.

Badr Hari

The Moroccan-Dutch Badr Hari is one of the icons of kickboxing. With an aggressive style, ‘Bad Boy’ has won over 90 of his matches by way of knockout. Throughout his career, he has competed at the highest levels of K-1 Kickboxing, It’s Showtime, Glory Kickboxing, and many others. Throughout his career, he has been able to defeat notable strikers such as Alistair Overeem, Semmy Schilt, Peter Aerts, and several more.

The 39-year-old athlete Badr Hari has added his voice to the mix. The Moroccan recognized the hard of the Algerian boxer and congratulated her on her Olympic wins. On his Instagram story, Badr Hari said:

“Well-deserved congratulations to this young woman!”

‘This Is Misinformation’ Chael Sonnen Reacts to Imane Khelif’s Olympic Boxing Controversy

Imane Khelif was the target of online abuse by bad-faith actors earlier this week. The Algerian Olympic boxer has…

Imane Khelif was the target of online abuse by bad-faith actors earlier this week. The Algerian Olympic boxer has been the leading story during these Olympic games, and the story of her gender. Chael Sonnen, former UFC fighter, has taken a step forward to try and counteract the misleading information that has been circulating.

Imane Khelif

Many people online were led to believe that Imane Khelif was a trans athlete or a man acting as a woman. This infuriated the masses who called out in uproar. The fact is Imane Khelif is from Algeria where being a trans person is illegal and transitionary surgeries are not allowed. The Algerian Olympic boxer was born a woman and still is a woman to this day. Additionally, she has never been found to have increased levels of testosterone and has been in Olympic testing for at least four years.

Last year, Imane Khelif was suspended by the IBA, an organization that is not recognized as legitimate by the Olympics. The IOC has been critical of the IBA for corruption and not following proper procedures. In a statement, the IOC explained, “The current aggression against these two athletes is based entirely on this arbitrary decision, which was taken without any proper procedure – especially considering that these athletes had been competing in top-level competition for many years.”

“‘Are these athletes women?’ The answer is yes, according to eligibility, according to their passports, according to their history.” IOC director Mark Adams added.

Chael Sonnen Talks Imane Khelif

Those who acted too quickly, and judged without knowing more, are now taking a step back to apologize for their words. Chael Sonnen, former UFC title contender and MMA personality, has gone to X and is attempting to counteract misinformation being spread.

One Tweet claimed that two men were competing for medals in Olympic boxing. Sonnen responded simply: “This is not accurate.”

This is not accurate. https://t.co/DsCLFAlOKu

— Chael Sonnen (@ChaelSonnen) August 4, 2024

In another Tweet, people tried to explain how women were fighting men in boxing. Sonnen countered with, “Matt, you got played. Delete this. The XY talk and the testing for such was misinformation.”

Matt, you got played. Delete this. The XY talk and the testing for such was misinformation. https://t.co/ksPSKxtzH6

— Chael Sonnen (@ChaelSonnen) August 3, 2024

‘This Is Misinformation’ Chael Sonnen Reacts to Imane Khelif’s Olympic Boxing Controversy

Imane Khelif was the target of online abuse by bad-faith actors earlier this week. The Algerian Olympic boxer has…

Imane Khelif

“‘Are these athletes women?’ The answer is yes, according to eligibility, according to their passports, according to their history.” IOC director Mark Adams added.

Chael Sonnen Talks Imane Khelif

One Tweet claimed that two men were competing for medals in Olympic boxing. Sonnen responded simply: “This is not accurate.”

This is not accurate. https://t.co/DsCLFAlOKu

— Chael Sonnen (@ChaelSonnen) August 4, 2024

Matt, you got played. Delete this. The XY talk and the testing for such was misinformation. https://t.co/ksPSKxtzH6

— Chael Sonnen (@ChaelSonnen) August 3, 2024

Angela Carini Apologizes to Imane Khelif – ‘Sad’ About Gender Issues in Olympic Boxing

The Algerian boxer Imane Khelif has been the topic of much debate in the ongoing 2024 Paris Olympic Games….

The Algerian boxer Imane Khelif has been the topic of much debate in the ongoing 2024 Paris Olympic Games. The internet has been in an uproar regarding her gender, trans athletes, and intersex people. Italian athlete Angela Carini has taken a step forward and apologized for her past actions.

Imane Khelif

Amateur Olympic boxer Imane Khelif, who has an overall record of 38-9, was suspended last year by the International Boxing Association, an organization that is not recognized as legitimate by the Olympics, due to issues of corruption. The IBA did not explain what tests it ran for this boxer but they did specify that it was not over testosterone levels. The IOC was critical of the decision as it did not follow due process.

“The current aggression against these two athletes is based entirely on this arbitrary decision, which was taken without any proper procedure – especially considering that these athletes had been competing in top-level competition for many years.” The IOC said in a statement.

“‘Are these athletes women?’ The answer is yes, according to eligibility, according to their passports, according to their history,” Olympic manager Mark Adams explained.

Khelif has been under Olympic testing since at least 2020 and has not been found to have increased levels of testosterone. Imane Khelif is from Algeria, a country where it is illegal to transition or be a trans person. Khelif is not trans, she was born female and has always identified as a woman. However, a story distributed was enough to ignite bad-faith actors online.

Angela Carini

The Algerian boxer knocked out Angela Carini and left the Italianian athlete in tears as she quickly quit the match. A highlight that went viral and fanned the flames even more of those acting in bad faith in online spaces. Carini, amateur record of 84-23, has joined others in apologizing as they judged too quickly. She explains:

“All this controversy certainly made me sad, and I also felt sorry for my opponent, she had nothing to do with it and like me was only here to fight. It was not intentional, in fact I apologize to her and to everyone. I was angry, because my Games had already gone up in smoke. I have nothing against Khelif and on the contrary, if I happened to meet her again I would give her a hug.”

Imane Khelif: Olympics’ scolding statement on boxer backlash: ‘Based on scientific evidence’

Amid on the continued scrutiny regarding the competing of welterweight boxer, Imane Khelif at this summer’s Olympic Games in…

Amid on the continued scrutiny regarding the competing of welterweight boxer, Imane Khelif at this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris, France, the competition have released an official statement addressing her eligibility to compete amongst her female peers.

Khelif, who featured at last year’s World Championships, was disqualified from competition after failing a gender test, however, returned to compete at this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris.

Competing yesterday against Italian boxer, Angela Carani, Khelif forced a first round TKO win inside just 46-seconds, with the former turning her back and signally her resignation from the bout to her corner team.

Olympics release statement amid Imane Khelif controversy

Set to progress and take on Hungarian striker, Luca Hamoni in a quarter final bracket at the welterweight limit tomorrow, Khelif has been the subject of much controversy on social media, with former undisputed UFC middleweight champion, Sean Strickland claiming her participation is a sign of “political wokeness” within the Olympic structure.

Releasing an official statement, the COA defended Imane Khelif’s ability to compete amongst her female peers.

“COA strongly condemns the unethical targeting and maligning of our esteemed athlete, Imane Khelif, with baseless propaganda from certain foreign media outlets,” COA said in a statement released. “Such attacks on her personality and dignity are deeply unfair, especially as she prepares for the pinnacle of her career at the Olympics. The COA has taken all necessary measures to protect our champion.”

Furthermore, a subsequent statement from the IOC (International Olympic Committee) and the Paris 2014 Boxing Unit has been released.

“Every person has the right to practise sport without discrimination,” The statement read. “All athletes participating in the boxing tournament of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 comply with the competition’s eligibility and entry regulations, as well as all applicable medical regulations set by the Paris 2024 Boxing United. As with the previous Olympic boxing competitions, the gender and age of the athletes are based on their passport.”

Despite failing gender tests, two boxers allowed to compete in Paris Olympics

“These rules also applied during the qualification period, including the boxing tournaments of the 2023 European Games, Asian Games, Pan American Games and Pacific Games, the ad hod 2023 African qualifying tournament in Dakar and two world qualifying tournaments held in Busto Arsizio and Bangkok in 2024, which involved a total of 1,471 different boxers from the 172 National Olympic Committees, the Boxing Refugee Team and Individual Neutral Athletes, and featured over 2,000 qualification bouts.”