The Origins of Wrestling: From Ancient Beginnings to Modern-Day Champions

Greco-Roman

Greco-Roman wrestling is central to the development of the modern Olympics, with the sport being one of the first to feature in the modern 1896 Olympics in Athens. Similar to  freestyle wrestling, competitors aim to pin their opponent’s shoulders to the mat. However unlike freestyle wrestling, competitors must refrain from inducing holds below the waist nor use their legs in offensive attacks such as leg locks.

As such, athletes rely primarily on upper body strength to defeat challengers, utilizing a range of throws and suplexes in competition. At the Olympics, Greco-Roman and freestyle matches are fought in three 2-minute rounds,  with 30-second breaks between each round.

Beach

Beach wrestling, introduced as a form of wrestling in 2004, involves athletes competing in a sand-filled circle, with the objective being to either land an opponent out of the ring, on their back, or to the ground.

In Beach Wrestling, athletes must score three points to defeat their opponents across a 3-minute match time scale, with wrestlers gaining points upon successfully conducting the aforementioned objectives. While not an Olympic sport, Beach Wrestling has various global titles, such as the World Beach Wrestling Championships.

Folkstyle

Otherwise known as collegiate wrestling, Folkstyle wrestling is a form that dates back to the early 19th century. While similar in a few ways to other disciplines, such as Freestyle, Folkstyle differs greatly in its ruleset, specifically focusing on a wrestler’s ability to scramble for a takedown and maneuver out of tricky positions when on the mat.

Likewise, athletes are rewarded for how long they restrain an opponent, with control and riding time playing a large role in this style of wrestling.

When was Wrestling Invented?

Research suggests that wrestling originated in Mesopotamia over 5,000 years ago. This incredibly vast history is revealed through depictions of modern wrestling moves inscribed on the walls of ancient Sumarian tombs and artifacts.

Wrestling began gaining popularity in Ancient Greece around 700 BCE. It wasn’t long before it became a central sport, earning its place in the first ever Olympics in 776 BCE. Across the ages, wrestling has been observed in numerous ancient civilizations, from ancient Chinese interpretations to wrestling in India.

In Ancient Greece, wrestling became an important part of sporting culture, with two events in the first Olympics:the Pankration, which consisted of a boxing and wrestling hybrid and a toppling competition that pitted the mightiest of Greek athletes against one another (according to Britannica). Fast forward to today, wrestling has remained a mainstay at the Olympics and in sporting culture, with tens of thousands of avid fans at competitions to  watch their favorite athletes wrestle.

Who was the First Wrestler?

Ancient Greek wrestling champion and military leader Milo of Croton is considered one of the first-ever wrestlers. He won numerous Olympic and Pythian Games titles. According to folklore, Milo of Croton was said to have found a stray calf away from its herd while out on a morning walk. Milo carried it as a young boy back to its pack, returning every day for four years to carry the calf, as a feat of strength, until it became an ox.

It was also said that Milo would carry an Ox on his shoulders during the opening ceremony of the Olympic games,exhibiting his great power and living up to his namesake. Unfortunately, Milo’s greatest strength was eventually his Achilles heel. Milo of Croton met his demise after attempting to test his strength by breaking open a tree trunk while walking around the edge of a dark wood. After getting his hand stuck in the tree, he became prey for the wolves who were known to hunt in the woods, which led to him being eaten alive.

Modern-Day Champions

Numerous wrestlers have been champions throughout wrestling’s long history. Dan Gable is considered one of the greatest wrestlers of all time, winning multiple NCAA titles, All-American championships, and an Olympic gold. Gable started his career as an undefeated high school wrestling champion for Iowa State University, winning 100 college victories by 1969 with no defeats. He went on to win the 1971 Pan American championships, winning a gold medal in the 1972 Olympics, without losing a single point to a competitor. He later coached the University of Iowa and the US Olympic team successfully across numerous championships.

There is also John Smith, a legend of freestyle wrestling that is second to none in this domain, winning a total of eight medals across world championships, Olympics and Pan American games. John Smith is considered the best American freestyle wrestler.

Cael Sanderson is one of the more recent champions who has cemented his name as one of the greatest, with a 159-0 record and winning Olympic gold for the USA in 2004.

Wrestling and Its Evolution

From the ancient Sumerians to present-day champions, wrestling has matured thanks to its integral part in the development of the Olympics. Over time, the sport has become increasingly sophisticated across freestyle and Greco-Roman categories, comprising a large followership.

If you’re interested in learning more about wrestling, we have a wealth of wrestling video courses on the ISNation App.

You can learn about

• Mastering the Arm Drag by Frostburg State University Head Coach Breonnah Neal
• High Crotch Setups with UNC Pembroke Head Coach OT Johnson
• Single Leg Takedowns with Sly Fox Wrestling Club Owner WIllie Hilton

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The app also provides free mental wellness content for athletes, coaches, and parents, to help you be the best you can be, in and out of your sport.