American wrestlers were the first to oppose political interference and any restrictions imposed on athletes, including Russians, the president of the Russian Wrestling Federation told . Mikhail Mamiashvili .
The World Wrestling Championships take place in Belgrade from September 16 to 24. The Russians are participating in the tournament in neutral status. Russian Zaurbek Sidakov defeated American Kyle Dake in the final of the Olympic category up to 74 kg and became three-time world champion. Sidakov said Dake behaved disrespectfully and did not shake his hand after the final fight.
— What is the current attitude of the representatives of the American struggle towards the Russians?
— We have the closest relations with the Americans. They were the first to categorically deny any restrictions imposed on athletes. Americans are neither for whites nor for reds. They are categorically against any restrictions in sports, against interference from politicians who dictate to us how to live and make friends. They cited the 1980 and 1984 Olympic Games as examples. They claim that only athletes, coaches and sports fans in general suffered from these restrictions. Therefore, the representatives of American wrestling, who are also the head of the United World of Wrestling, firmly and consistently defended their position in the interests of non-interference from a gang of villains who, including on the Olympic site, want to sow discord and quarrel.
The handshake was the primary meaning of the resuscitation of the new Olympic Games. The main thing was to shake the hand of a person from another country, from another continent, from another skin color, from another religion. I think there are definitely healthier forces and that in the end everything will fall into place.
— What is the point of a neutral status if Ukrainians always identify neutral athletes as Russians and do not shake their hands?
– There is no limit to this madness. At the recent congress of the international federation, a Ukrainian was elected to the governing bodies. I didn’t vote for him, but I didn’t even know he was Ukrainian. I don’t know him at all, neither as a wrestler, nor as a coach, nor as an official. They asked me: didn’t you vote for him because he comes from Ukraine? I say: no, I just don’t know this person, I don’t know his professional qualities. How can I take responsibility in the wrestling business family and recommend someone I don’t know myself.
I voted for an American I’ve known for decades. Yes, we are discussing with him, but we are discussing on the basis of the implementation of the tasks facing the international struggle. He’s a professional, that’s why I voted for him. Likewise, he voted for me, because, first of all, he would be bored without me. And then we are linked by many years of friendship and normal human relations.
— Coach of the Russian national team Makhmud Magomedov said that Mamiashvili is a fighter on the field, which means that you have achieved the admission of Russian wrestlers to international competitions.
– This is far from true, the leaders of our great country are behind me. Unfortunately, a lot of things don’t work. But not because we are attacked by laziness or because we leave certain things for Monday.
— Your main interest now is the Paris Olympic Games?
“The main interest is to be worthy of our great state, in any form,” Mamiashvili told .
Watch live broadcasts of the World Wrestling Championships fights on the match! Fighter” and “Match! Arena”, as well as the websites matchtv.ru and sportbox.ru.
Source : MatchTV
I am Ashley Ortiz and I am a professional journalist working for Athletistic. My specialty is in sports journalism, particularly boxing. I have written articles for some of the most renowned publications on the subject, and my work has been featured across both print and digital media platforms.
