Wrestling is perhaps the toughest sport to ever existed. It is the most genuine test of one’s athletic ability and mental determination to win. As Dan Gable said, “Once you’ve wrestled, everything else in life is easy”.
Grueling is an understatement when describing each wrestling practice, and winning the match against another well-trained individual who also aims to get their hand raised is more than a challenge. Today, we will talk about the greatest wrestlers in the sport’s history.
The Sport Of Wrestling
Wrestling can be described as multiple sports combined into one. Mentally, it is like playing chess because of the constant back-and-forth exchanges and planning of moves ahead. Physically, it is like training in athletics, gymnastics, and weightlifting to build agility, speed, explosiveness, endurance, strength, and flexibility to perform functional movements.
While Olympic wrestling can be differentiated into two types, Greco-Roman and Freestyle, both styles are uniquely difficult in their own way. Greco-Roman focuses on upper body attacks; any techniques below the waist are prohibited, and neither wrestler can use the legs for defensive or offensive actions. On the other hand, freestyle wrestling has no restrictions and allows more freedom to attack the opponent’s hips, legs, and feet.
Matches can be won by points, technical superiority (8-point advantage for Greco-Roman, and 10-point advantage for Freestyle), or by pinning the opponent’s shoulders on the mats.
The Greatest Wrestlers In History
The list includes Greco-Roman and Freestyle wrestlers in both male and female categories. Below are the most dominant wrestlers, with their decorated achievements in the Olympics and World Championships.
1) Aleksandr Karelin
Karelin is among the GOATs of wrestling and one of the most intimidating wrestlers ever due to his gigantic frame and inhumane strength. He competed under Russia in Greco-Roman wrestling and finished his career with 887 wins and two losses (both by a single point). An exhibit of his superhuman strength, Karelin has been known for lifting his heavyweight opponents (who are actively resisting) from the mat and then dumping them down with his move, widely known as the “Karelin Dump.”
Throughout his career, Karelin has won three Olympic golds (1988, 1992, and 1996) and a Silver (2000) medal. He has also won nine world championships without losing a match.
2) Mijain Lopez
Lopez is a Greco-Roman wrestler who competed for Cuba. Considered one of wrestling’s greatest athletes, Mijain Lopez has done something that has never been done before in the history of the sport, perhaps in the history of the Olympics – it is to win five consecutive Olympic gold medals in the same individual sporting event. Alongside his Olympic achievements, Lopez has also won 5 gold medals in the world championships and 3 silver medals.
It would be interesting to see what would happen if Aleksandr Karelin and Mijain Lopez ever squared up on the mats.
3) Jordan Burroughs
Jordan Burroughs is one of the most decorated freestyle wrestlers in American history and one of the greatest freestyle wrestlers ever. He is widely known for his blast double leg, which helped him defeat many powerful opponents. JB is an Olympic gold medalist and six-time world champion (6 golds and 3 bronze). JB played folkstyle wrestling as a collegiate athlete, winning two golds and 1 bronze in NCAA Division I titles.
4) Buvaisar Saitiev
Saitiev is highly regarded as the greatest freestyle wrestler of all time. He represented Russia and is famous for his technical approach to wrestling, turning even the best wrestlers in the World from the par terre position. Saitiev has won 3 Olympic gold medals (1996, 2004, and 2008) and six world championships.
5) Dan Gable
Dan Gable is considered one of the greatest Freestyle American wrestlers. He is an Olympic (unscored in his six matches), World Championship gold medalist, and a two-time NCAA Division I national champion. Perhaps one of Gable’s greatest achievements is how he, as a coach, helped the community of wrestlers at the University of Iowa reach tremendous success in competition (15 NCAA titles in 21 seasons).
6) Hassan Yazdani
Yazdani is regarded as one of the greatest Iranian freestyle wrestlers ever. Earning the nickname “The Greatest,” Yazdani is a multiple-time Olympic medalist (1 gold and 2 silver) and multiple-time world champion (3 gold, three silver, 1 bronze) competing in two different weight classes. His relentless attempts at takedowns, alongside his hand-fighting system, have led him to win countless matches.
7) Cael Sanderson
Cael Sanderson is one of the greatest American wrestlers of all time. He has won an Olympic gold medal and a silver medal in the world championships. Perhaps one of his well-known achievements is his dominance in NCAA Division I wrestling during his college years, where he held the throne for four consecutive years, beating the likes of Daniel Cormier during his reign.
8) Abdulrashid Sadulaev
Abdulrashid Sadulaev, also known as the “Russian Tank,” is a freestyle wrestler and is widely considered one of the most dominant wrestlers today. So far, Sadulaev has gathered 2 Olympic gold medals and 7 world championship medals (6 gold and 1 silver) at only 28 years of age. Despite competing in the heavier weight class, Sadulaev’s technical advantage over his opponents allows him to win matches through reversals and counterattacks.
9) Kyle Snyde
Kyle Snyder is one of the greatest active freestyle wrestlers in the United States today. Before Amit Elor’s recent gold medal in the 2024 Olympics, Kyle Snyder was the youngest Olympic and World Champion in wrestling in the U.S. Snyder is known for putting relentless pressure on his opponents, forcing their game plan out of the window.
The Snyder and Sadulaev match-up is one of the greatest rivalries in wrestling in recent memory.
10) Kaori Icho
Kaori Icho is one of the greatest female freestyle wrestlers of all time. Representing Japan, she has won an unbelievable ten world championships and four Olympic gold medals. She is the first female to win an individual event four consecutive times and has never lost a match in the Olympics, making her a legend in her country and the sport.
11) Artur Aleksanyan
Artur Aleksanyan, also known as the “White Bear,” is a Greco-Roman wrestler representing Armenia. He is the most decorated Olympian in Armenia and the most renowned Armenian athlete of the 21st century. Artur is a multiple-time Olympic medalist (1 gold, 2 silver, and 1 bronze) and a multiple-time world medalist(4 golds and 3 silvers).
12) Aleksandr Medved
Aleksandr Medved is considered one of the greatest wrestlers in history and the best Belarusian athlete of the 20th century. He was the first freestyle wrestler in history to win three consecutive Olympic gold medals in three different weight classes. Medved is also a seven-time world champion. He’s a well-known wrestling technician and a master of the sport.
13) Schlutz Brothers
The Schlutz brothers, Mark and Dave, were Olympic freestyle gold medalists in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Mark was a two-time world champion and a three-time NCAA Division I champion, while Dave was a multiple-time world medalist (1 gold, 3 silver, and 2 bronze). The brothers were known for their knowledge, technique, and quickness on the mats, which caused problems for even the best wrestlers like Kurt Angle, during their training practice.
14) Saori Yoshida
Saori Yoshida is one of the greatest female wrestlers of all time and is one of the most decorated alongside Kaori Icho. Representing Japan, Soari has surprisingly won 13 world championships, three consecutive Olympic gold medals, and one silver. Today, she is regarded as a living legend in women’s wrestling.
Conclusion
Becoming a wrestling champion is perhaps one of the toughest accomplishments in sports. Wrestling demands relentless self-discipline and constant competition—not just against opponents, but against yourself. Wrestlers are frequently evaluated, often being evaluated and tested weekly to secure their spot on the competition teams. Ultimately, the mats don’t lie; they reveal the effort, determination, and hard work each athlete has invested, pushing everyone to continuously improve and strive for excellence.
Their stories, achievements, and contributions serve as a testament to the enduring appeal and significance of the sport. Whether through their victories or their impact beyond the mats, these legends will forever be celebrated as some of the greatest competitors in wrestling history.
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