Why Russia Took Their Ball And Went Home 

Crazy news! I'd be stunned if any Russian took the risk of competing. Also I messed up on Zhamalov. He is Russian but represents UZB, he's always been in. Russia was out completely at 74kg after the initial wave of cuts. My bad!

Not fair to all the other athletes devaluing their medals manipulating the whole competition for idiotic politics

Kind of crazy how russia had half of the defending olympic champions

I think that the Russians should invite the Olympic gold medallists to a duel meet😊

Not welcome news. It's a diminished competition.

This is a repeat of the 84' Olympics. While I do think the Schultz brothers and Randy Lewis had a great shot at gold if Russia had been there, there was always an asterisk next to any gold medalist in wrestling at those games. No different here. Simply put, we aren't going to see the best against the best.

The ioc sucks and politics should be left out of sports.

You said they weren’t allowed to send their best but the title says “Russia took their ball and went home”? Uhhh no. All gold medals in freestyle this year come with an asterisk

I feel bad for Sadulaev.

“You can’t win the Olympics if Russia is not there”. Yeah, lol that’s like saying, “you can’t beat me if I quit.” Sucks for the Russian wrestlers though who probably don’t give a crap about politics and just want to wrestle.

I think the Russian Athletes should file lawsuits against the IOC. On what grounds? I don't have a clue. But as the "KGB" used to say, "Give me the man, and I'll find you the crime."

The Russians should create their own Olympics

I truly believe that russian being out of the olympic games is gonna effect all the next medalist legacy , for example even if kyle dake gets the olympic gold lot of people will always say he only got that because the russians weren’t there , and i even doubt he may say it to himself .

You could see this coming when the certain Russians were not allowed to compete and the fact Russia created the friendship games for September

Your take is just cope. This is an asterisk games now.

I mean if the best of the best are not competing can you really even call it the Olympics

Joke NATO olympics…olympics and politics should be separated what a joke !!!

How is it at all fair that Russia is banned but Israel can compete and keep their flag despite committing genocide?

I wish Iran would boycott the joke NATO Olympics too

no way... what could possibly being hold russia back.. oh wait..

“Russia uses sport for propaganda like no other nation” Congratulations, this is the most ignorant sports related quote I have heard in years.

1:35 Zhamalov wrestles for Uzbekistan?

Another fantastic video! Thank you!

This guy just shit on Russia for no reason. There’s no question about it that Russia brings out some of the best wrestlers in the world. And if you combine all the podium positions for all time, they have the most medals. They aren’t allowed to compete because of politics regarding the current conflict with Ukraine. If Russia can’t send its best wrestlers to compete in the Olympics then they don’t want any part of it. It’s not fair, simple as that. F that. If the best in the world are going to compete then Russia should be able to send their best.

Good peace out cheaters

The US squad should do their best to win medals and THEN announce as a squad that they are ALL competing in the Russian Friendship Games from September 15 to 29, 2024. All the best Russian wrestlers will be there, and an announcement by the US squad that they will ALL compete would ensure that the BEST wrestlers from the rest of the world would go. The Friendship Games would then eclipse the Olympics, at least in the sport of wrestling. Our deranged leadership in the US is, as usual, flailing around impotently. They seem to have forgotten that America "goes not abroad in search of monsters to destroy." Hell, any American with the capacity for independent thought understands that the monsters that need destroying are all IN THE US.

At the top of the video you mentioned that some of the Russians weren't going to be allowed to compete. But I didn't noticed that you said why.

Olympics should not be political period

Very disappointed. The IOC is ruining international wrestling with vindictive political rulings. The Olympics will be tough, but this will diminish the level of competition and does not bode well for the sport.

No I’m dirty Dan

"Russia, who uses sport for propaganda..." My dude, the propaganda is the IOC punishing Russia for intervening in a genocide in the Donbas but not punishing the US for wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and everywhere else.

Does this change the field of 57kg very much?

Thats not right not fair for the people

You know what? Good for them. The Olympics aren’t good enough to have em anyways. Let the Olympics make as much money as they want appealing to their Ukrainian audience. The Russians can compete in their own terms and regulations in the Friendship Games. Best of Luck Sidakov, Sadulaev, Uguev, and Mamedov🇺🇸🤝🇷🇺

In other words, “2024 Olympic champion!”…* *[Russia did not compete]*

If Russia is not there those Wrestling Medals might as well be made of chocolate and a gold wrapper. Do not celebrate your win if the top guys didn’t show up.

Do you know what the joke is? Russian wrestlers competing for other countries will win the medal count in freestyle wrestling. 3-4 numbers will win over everyone else

I understand them. They banned their 3 best wrestlers so why go at all? Double standards. Isreal are able to participate. Same with US during their illegal war in Iraq. Disgusting!

Hey dark speaker humen 💝🐱

Everyone knows sidakov is better than Dake, its not even close

I believe this is an internal political move. Almost all of the great Russian wrestlers these days are from their muslim enclaves. Right now, there is major underlying hostility with Moscow and these regions, this situation, in my opinion is much bigger than Olympic wrestling.

Wrestling loses when Russia isn't there. Same with US and Iran. Most years most weight classes, we could live without others...not always. But Russia being out is a loss for the sport. Honestly, the Olympic servants who think they are rulers need to back the f*** off and bring countries together. Political statements with the Olympics is horseshit for reasons way beyond sports. The political heat itself is a reason FOR inclusion. Sadulaev's statements that are pro-Russian in nature make sense when coming from...wait for it...a Russian. He and the Russians needed to be there.

The Olympic asterisk games *... I get there have always been politics in the Olympics, but at this point Russia is being persecuted far more than the Germans in WWII mid genocide.

They must have figured that they won't be able to wrestle while up to their wazoos in PEDs

Awesome! Thank you for your hard work and talent! 👄😻👅

First

The heck with those Commies!!

June is over. Get rid of this host