Paris Olympics skipped by top wrestlers who slam 'parody of competition'

Russia's Olympic wrestling team has shunned the Paris 2024 Olympics as a form of protest against the IOC's decision, which permits only certain Russian athletes to participate. The International Olympic Committee was compelled to act due to Russia's conflict in Ukraine, leading to an initial ban on all Russian competitors from the Games.

The IOC later revised this position, allowing a handful of athletes who adhered to specific criteria to compete. Athletes aiming to compete under a neutral flag at the Paris Games must prove their dissociation from supporting, financing, or being linked with the Russian aggression in Ukraine and have no ties with the Russian military.

Ten wrestlers from the Russian Wrestling Federation successfully passed these eligibility checks but refused the opportunity to compete, arguing that it threatened the team's solidarity. "We do not accept the non-sporting principle of selection on which the International Olympic Committee (IOC) based its list of authorized athletes and whose aim is to undermine the unity of our team," the Federation announced.

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President Mikhail Mamiashvili also disparaged the upcoming Olympics: "These are not Olympic Games - this is a parody of competition." His harsh words may be fueled by the exclusion of key members of his squad, including two-time Olympic gold medallist Abdulrashid Sadulaev and double world champion Zaur Uguev, who did not meet the IOC's eligibility requirements.

The Federation lamented: "The unified world of wrestling has lost its last chance to see a competition between the strongest at the Olympic Games."

Ivan Litvinovich clinched the men's trampoline gold medal on Friday, marking the first gold for the neutral collective of athletes invited to the Olympics. Viyaleta Bardzilouskaya secured silver in the women's trampoline event, finishing just behind Team GB's Bryony Page, who now boasts a complete set of all three medal colors.

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Competing under the acronym AIN which stands for 'Athlete Individual Neutre' in French, meaning Individual Neutral Athlete these athletes were not permitted to have a boat in the opening ceremony along the Seine and their medals will not contribute to the official team standings.

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