At 27 Abdulrashid Sadulayev won the Olympic Games twice, became the best at the World Championships five times and four times at the European Championships. Nevertheless, the wrestler still intends to perform at a high level. With the same attitude, he wanted to participate in the European Championships in Romania, but he was denied entry to the country due to visa problems.
On the air of the show “Tous pour le Match!” on , Sadulaev cited the political component as the reason for his exclusion from the tournament in Bucharest, talked about the advice given to him by former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and also admitted that he wants to surpass the achievements of Buvaysar Saitiev and Alexander Medvéd.
— How is it that you crossed Spain, but in Romania you were finally arrested and sent back?
“It’s a mystery to me.” I received a Schengen visa and passed through Barcelona. Moscow-Belgrade, Belgrade-Barcelona, from Barcelona I flew to Romania. I felt like they were waiting for me there. When I approached the window, they immediately took my passport and began to check it with a magnifying glass. At first they didn’t explain anything to me, then they took me to a separate room and told me that I had a suspicious visa. I say: “How is this possible if I have already arrived on the territory of the European Union?
— The Italian visa, what did you do, did they find it suspicious?
– Yes! They detained me for three or four hours, then at the beginning they told me they would think about whether to allow it or not. As a result, they said: “Management says don’t run it!” I called the federation in Moscow. I also spoke with the local president of the federation. They spoke with the head of customs. They couldn’t fix this either. There are things that don’t depend on me. And they told me that if I return to Barcelona, from there to Bulgaria, and from there I arrive by land, there will be no problem. But there was one “but”: I had to play the next day. And physically, I couldn’t do it.
– Would you have succeeded like that?
– Yes of course. If we had one more day, we could try.
— Do you think what happened had a sporting or political component?
– I can not tell. But I think sport is unlikely. Because all my friends who play sports don’t have such opportunities to do such things. I think there is a political component.
We played [на чемпионате Европы] not bad, even with such a composition. Of the first 10 issues, only three received a visa. I think if all the first numbers had been there, the result would have been completely different.
— So for the rest of the figures the result is good?
– Certainly! We qualified very well, even though the athletes were the last to be informed of their participation. But still, when we prepare and agree, it’s different. And when on the last day you are told: “get ready!” ”, you may be a little lost. Especially if you have never participated in international competitions before.
— How ready were you for the European Championships?
— During training during training camp, I felt very confident. The form was very good. It’s just a shame I couldn’t make it. So I was 90% ready.
— Can we say that the “Russian tank” is back?
– “Tank” is not gone!
— Is it difficult to play without a flag or anthem?
– Of course, it’s hard. I have had this since 2021, because at the Tokyo Olympics we also fought without a flag or anthem. It’s nice, of course, when our country’s anthem is played and its flag is raised. But our task is to train and show the results on the mat. And there are things that have nothing to do with sportsmanship. But they want to put psychological pressure on him. With admission without an anthem and flag and restrictions during international competitions, they want to at least break our athletes, but we have very strong-willed guys.
***
— You said Kyle Snyder wasn’t the most important opponent for you?
“There is no way to deliberately prepare for it.” But writing it off would be a big mistake.
—Is there a main rival?
– There is no principle. If you think it’s Ahmed [Тажудинов], then no. If I had principles, I would go to a tournament now where he would fight.
– He said you were the first to congratulate him.
— We were close (laughs). I knew he would shoot soon, but I didn’t think it would be so soon. I knew that at the World Cup he would ruin the weather for many. And that’s what happened.
– Do you know who is going through the hardest time right now? Shamil Omarov! He is your and Ahmed’s coach. He said he didn’t know who to root for.
– Accept!
— When are you going to MMA?
– Never!
—Have you already decided that yourself?
– Yes!
— Even after the Olympic Games?
– (turns head negatively)
– For what?
“I am no longer old enough to change sports. Fighting is not my thing! I have dedicated almost my entire life to wrestling. So far everything seems to be going well with my health, there are no big problems. There’s nothing wrong with my head.
The struggle is not a fight. They don’t give you money to get promoted or do a lot of PR. I will give an example from our fraternal republic of North Ossetia. They themselves also say that they are in decline lately. Because for them, as for us, freestyle wrestling was one of the flagship sports, a national sport. And now, due to the lack of patrons and lack of funding, the guys have lost motivation. It’s also bad for us, because the competition keeps us on our toes. Our main rivals are our Ossetian brothers. If they fall [борьба]after a while we [в Дагестане] will also fall.
— You have a friend, Olympic champion Zaurbek Sidakov. You know what he’s going to do after the second Games…
– I heard he intended to do so. But he didn’t move forward.
— After the second Olympic Games…
– It’s his right! I cannot forbid him or give him instructions. I can give advice, but I cannot forbid. It’s his life. I will see you and I will talk. If he tells me, I will give him [совет].
***
— In early February, Khabib Nurmagomedov published a post on his social networks in which he showed a photo with you.
— I stayed in a hotel in Moscow. I try not to miss a workout. And in the hotel where I was staying, I went down to the lobby and studied there alone. And I look: Khabib has just arrived. I was just looking for a couple. And we trained together.
– Did you arm wrestle?
– No! We stretched a little and talked. He gave me a lot of good advice.
– What plan?
– In life. It motivated me for the Olympics. That you have to leave everything, prepare and give everything. And then you can even rest.
— Do you need extra motivation?
– Do not prevent. Even a small child can motivate.
— How do we recover psychologically? What helps you?
– First of all, my goodness! Especially in the last year and a half, the Almighty has thrown many challenges at me, one after another. If you had told me five years ago that such trials would happen to me, I would not have believed it. The Almighty allows me to bear all this with such ease. I can’t describe it in words. There are things I can’t talk about right now. I can’t and it’s inappropriate! When the time comes, maybe I’ll tell you. But now I can’t!
— Are you tired of popularity?
– No, I’m already used to it.
– Can you get used to that?
– Certainly! When I won the first Olympic Games, it was very difficult. Every day, many guys came: either to give advice or to take photos. Some saw me for the first time in their lives. If I refuse them at that moment, regardless of my mood or if I say a rude word, I will remain in their memory for the rest of my life exactly the person they considered me to be. Our brothers, friends, mentors also told me that I needed to show sabur (patience, Avar language). Whether you are older or younger, try to be as attentive as possible and try not to turn anyone away to the best of your ability.
— Do you want to surpass Saitiev’s result or at least repeat it?
“As they say, a bad soldier is one who does not want to become a general. ” Of course, I want to bypass Saitiev and Alexander Medved, but lately not everything depends on me because of sanctions, some political moments: they do not allow it, that is, I have my own moments in my life. And because of such moments, some things go wrong. I had a reason for the World Cup, and I also have my own reason for the European Championship. Sooner or later the time will come – people will find out.
— Black and white stripes. Have you come out of the black streak?
– We will leave sooner or later.
– What does your intuition tell you? Came out of?
– Came out! Let’s go out!
— Freestyle wrestling is only remembered at the Olympic Games. Do you hear this often? It’s a shame?
— It can be a shame when the wrestlers win the most medals, but show others (laughs). This kind of jealousy happens. The wrestlers themselves are very humble people. They rarely give interviews and rarely appear in front of the cameras.
– What would you like for yourself?
— So that there is health first. If it does not exist, there will be no victories, no struggle, nothing will happen. So that others can benefit from me. So that I have great opportunities, so that I can manage them and society benefits from me.
In sporting terms right now – so I can win a third gold medal [Олимпийских игр]!
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.
