UNITED WORLD WRESTLING

About

A combat sport of one of the most long-lasting and historically important disciplines, not only for its weight in development, but also for the entertainment value. In Greece, wrestling was considered a science and crucial training for young men. It was one of the disciplines in the Ancient Olympic Games (708 B.C.) and gained immense popularity. However, popular as it was, it was banned by the Roman Emperor Theodosius I in the year 393 B.C. After years of rupture, prohibition, and "underground practice" during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, it was in 1896 that wrestling was finally re-established along with the Olympic Games by the International Olympic Committee (established in 1894).  

France greatly contributed to the rise and fall of wrestling during the 19th century. On one hand, there were groups formed by men who traveled around France to wrestle and entertain, making wrestling a professional activity. This exposure extended wrestling to Italy, the Austrian Hungarian Empire, Russia, and Denmark. On the other hand, fights were being pre-arranged, wrestlers were more showmen than wrestlers, the corruption was palpable, and the once-admired discipline was often not taken seriously.  

Wrestling went through years of evolution and recreation, but it was not until after the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm that the sport was put in the spotlight once again. The international federation was created, and the sport was introduced and encouraged in every country. Another huge development happened in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. A century after the introduction of Freestyle Wrestling in the Olympic program, female wrestling was acknowledged as an Olympic discipline.  

The International Olympic Committee aimed at establishing equality in the sport and legitimizing the efforts made by the United World Wrestling (then called International Federation of Amateur Wrestling (FILA) to support the development of female wrestling. Freestyle and Greco-Roman styles remain two of the most popular disciplines in the modern Olympics. The UWW not only provides every tool and support to the athletes, but it also encourages coaches, physicians, and communities to get involved in the improvement of the sport, to keep learning and sharing their knowledge through workshops, events, and courses.

United World Wrestling

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