Sport in Greece - Wrestling

Wrestling

The forms of wrestling we know today as Greco-Roman and freestyle found their origins in the lands on the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea. These lands are where the Ancient Greeks resided, and developed the art of wrestling. Wrestling to the Greeks was not only part of a soldier's training regimen, but also a part of everyday life. Even in modern days, Wrestling has been one of the most significant Olympic sports in Greece, which has produced many Olympic and world champions and has given moments of glory to the country. Greece has won 11 medals at the modern Olympics and multiple medals in the World and European championships, a fact that makes the sport as one of the most successful for the country on a global stage. Some of the most significant Greek wrestlers are:

• Stelios Mygiakis, who competed at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow and won a gold medal in Greco-Roman wrestling, the featherweight class.
• Georgios Tsitas, who won a silver medal at the 1896 Summer Olympics
• Petros Galaktopoulos, who won 3 medals at the FILA Wrestling World Championships and 2 Olympic medals, a bronze at the 1968 Summer Olympics and a silver at the 1972 Summer Olympics.
• Ioannis Arzoumanidis, a two time bronze world champion
• Artiom Kiouregkian, is a Greek-Armenian wrestler, who won a bronze medal at the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Greco-Roman wrestling.