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

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.

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

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

I feel bad for Sadulaev.

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

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

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

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

"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.

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

“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.

Good peace out cheaters

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

Consider all the other nations super lucky that Russia quit. They have some of the greatest wrestlers of all time.

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.

I wish Iran would boycott the joke NATO Olympics too

Another fantastic video! Thank you!