Skip links
Skip to Content
play
Live
Show navigation menu
Navigation menu
News
Show more news sections
Middle East
Africa
Asia
US & Canada
Latin America
Europe
Asia Pacific
Israel War on Gaza
Features
Opinion
Video
More
Show more sections
Economy
Ukraine war
Coronavirus
Climate Crisis
Investigations
Interactives
In Pictures
Science & Technology
Sport
Podcasts
play
Live
Click here to search
search
In Pictures
Gallery
In Pictures: Greco-Roman Wrestling
A glimpse at one of the world’s oldest sports.
Greco-Roman Wrestling is recognised as one of the world’s oldest sports.
Published On 7 Aug 2012
7 Aug 2012
facebook
twitter
whatsapp
copylink
It was first held at the ancient Olympics in 708BC and Greco-Roman Wrestling was included at the Athens 1896 Games.
In Greco-Roman wrestling, competitors can only use their arms and upper bodies to attack their opponent(***)s upper body.
The aim is to force the back of the opponent’s shoulders on to the ground using strength, cunning and balance. All the action takes place on an octagonal mat and can last for a maximum of three periods of two minutes with a 30-second break in between periods.
Wrestlers sports a one-piece spandex suit to prevent an opponent from grabbing on to it to use to their advantage.
There are various types of throw that can score points, including the ‘grand amplitude’ – throwing an opponent on his back, and the ‘takedown’ where the opponent is thrown to the mat.
There are two types of wrestling – freestyle and Greco-Roman Wrestling, but only men participate in Greco-Roman Wrestling.
Cuba’s Mijain Lopez powered to his second successive Olympic gold in the heaviest weight class (120kg), and then set his sights on a third gold in Rio.