Former UFC heavyweight and light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier commented on on the situation regarding the admission of Russian athletes to the Olympic Games in Paris.
At the moment, the Russian freestyle wrestling team will not be able to compete in several weight categories at the Olympics. Despite their Olympic licenses, Olympic champions Abdulrashid Sadulayev and Zaurbek Sidakov, as well as Artur Nayfonov, who passed the Olympic selection in Baku, were not allowed to participate in the Paris Games.
— For you, the Paris Olympic Games without the strongest Russian wrestlers…
“I think that will be the case, obviously, it’s still the Olympics.” But it makes a difference, right? Any time one of the best wrestling countries in the world isn’t involved, it’s a game changer.
— What do you think of the fight between Sadulayev and Snyder? Are you going to miss her at the Olympics?
— Sadulayev versus Snyder? It’s no longer the biggest event in wrestling. Last year, a young man beat them both… I don’t remember his name (Akhmed Tazhudinov, plays for the Bahrain national team. – ). He cruised past Snyder 11-0 and then beat Sadulaev. It’s incredible. It would be great to see Kyle and Abdulrasheed at the tournament, it’s always fun to see them fight. But damn, there’s already a young Russian who beat them both and won the world championship last year.
— Today, many people compare Alexander Karelin, who won three Olympic Games in Greco-Roman wrestling, and Mikhain Lopez, who won four Olympic Games. Which name means the most to you?
— Lopez. He won four Olympic Games. And I heard he’s going to fight in other Olympics. In other words, he will try to win the Olympic Games for the fifth time. This is madness. 20 years in the Olympics, man, it’s crazy,” Cormier told .
Sadulaev won gold at the 2016 Olympics in the weight category up to 86 kg, and at the Tokyo Olympics he became the best in the weight category up to 97 kg. The Russian has also won five World Championships and four European Championships.
The Paris Olympic Games will be held from July 26 to August 11.
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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.
