Americans Wrestling For Other Countries: Good Or Bad?
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- čas přidán 27. 08. 2024
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I feel like it was only a matter of time, America has gotten so damn good at wrestling that they have crazy depth everywhere, they’re basically just doing with the Russians did for years
Exactly. The amount of Russians representing other countries is nuts. A testament to how solid that program is. Was only a matter of time before the US started doing it too. Hell, JB kept Taylor off the team a couple times, Dake off the Olympic team quite a few times and both are now multiple World champions. The depth at quite a few weights has been nuts for the US for a while and was only compounded when they reduced the number of weight classes that were Olympic weights (I'm still salty about that).
I was SHOCKED when Micic and Rivera won world titles. Neither one of them won a single NCAA title - and Micic was in college for close to a decade.
Lol
Hilarious...and I'm a Michigan and Micic fan.
To be fair Micic was derailed badly by injuries. I was happy to see him return to form and capture a World title. Was sad seeing him end his NCAA career the way he did (Eierman too being Micic was the one wrestling him when he injury defaulted out).
C.P. I GUESS they have heritagethere,so to alot of people,that's ok.Gomez said in an interview, the reason he wrestling for Mexico,was because was easier than making U.S. Like most Americans not a fan,but its up to us to elevate our team,even tho these guys wrestle college in the states.Guess we need to be happy Vito didnt jump ship.THE PROBLEM I HAVE,is that they are using coaches from US! I suppose the university they work for and paying them must being giving the ok! Whats to say K.J..Doesnt bring talent back to Michigan??? Not a fan of either, but more so the coaches !Woods a 3 seed in big 10 is comical,waite and see!
Rivera was a silver medalist.
It’s a great thing because it all just points to how effective and important NCAA wrestling is. Same as how all the Russian success via other countries is a testament to how effective the Russian system is.
Agreed. The depth the US has at several weights is nuts. I don't think people clutching their pearls would have as big a problem had the US squad wrestled as they should have (and could have). If those guys weren't going to make the team anyway I've no problem with them representing another country that they're also a citizen of. I hated how Micic's NCAA career ended and was really happy for him winning a title for Serbia. Wouldn't have happened had he been forced to stay in the US. More power to him (and the others).
I'm guessing most cheer for wrestlers...NOT teams🤷
So you don't have a team,you pull for? I venture to say you're one of the few!
I don’t blame any of those guys representing other countries. They gotta do what’s in the best interest for themselves. What that is? I don’t know. If they got recruited to wrestle for a certain team, but they couldn’t be a starter, the coach would make them sit for the best interest of the team. I see it no differently for these guys that represent the countries of their origins.
These are athletes, who probably wouldn't make the U.S. team, seeking their fortunes with nations they have strong connections to. It's entirely possible that this change of scenery, and completely new and unknown teammates and coaches, inspires a greater level of urgency and competitiveness on their part. Lee pins Gomez. So, no one expected Gomez to tech Lee. How did that happen? Gomez alone determines how and when he fights for wrestling immortality. The choices that lead him there belong to him, not to us and not to America. Ironically, the fact that he owns his path and self-determination is largely what it means to be American. Good for him. Ultimately, we are all citizens of the world.
This is a great take on the situation... self-determination is a key trait in U.S. culture.
Well said
I think it’s great. Gets more of these guys on the international circuit
Congrats to all the americans competing. Wether its under the stars and stripes or another flag. Just makes the olympics more fun for us college wrestling fans
Basically you guys are mad because they can represent the countries their grandparents came from. I mean y’all weren’t complaining when they didn’t make the final X for team USA so don’t be mad when they beat the kids you guys counted them out for. At the end of the day you wouldn’t be crying if Gomez and RBY didn’t win.
So they identify with the country of their grandparents rather than the country they were born in. You can’t have it both ways. Either you are American or you are not. I say ship them all back to their original countries if they want to play for those countries.
Agreed. If they didn't make the US team but did the other country, then there should be no crying. But I'm not sure that's how it went. Correct me if I'm wrong.
@@upsidedown69302 It should not be allowed. Neither should dual citizenship be allowed either.
If a wrestler is an American citizen, then he must wrestle for the US. Plain and simple. If not, then he can give up his US citizenship and live in another country. It is no different than fighting for another country during a war. Next, If a wrestler comes to America and wrestles for a US based University, then he also he has to wrestle for the United States. We shouldn't be training athletes, so they can wrestle against us in the Olympics. You can't live in the US and receive all the benefits that go with it and then turn around and support another country.
@@Hollingsworth2781too bad they’re doing it and there’s nothing u can do about it 🤷♂️
Great content CP. I root for team USA but would also be stoked and happy for Gomez, RBY, SeaBass, etc if they took home gold.
Nahh, god bless America. And no place else.
Me too 🇲🇽🇺🇸💪🏽
@@peterparker2651Something tells me God would’ve approve of this message
Its great that USA wrestling has the depth and talent it has, but like this situation it is a double edged sword. One could say that for a long time, USA could have swept the top 3 spots of the podium when Dake/Taylor/Burroughs were battling for the 1 spot.... I just wish there was more lobbying to increase the number of Olympic weight classes to fall in line with the UWW.
Those wrestlers that have the unique opportunity to transfer are smart, why go through the difficult USA gauntlet when they do not need to? I am sure every single one of them would have preferred wrestling for Team USA, but at the end of the day the Gold medal does not care what flag you are flying, just how you perform. Unfortunately, Team USA's athletes just did not perform when they needed to.
It just sucks that I don't think USA wrestling is giving themselves the best chance to secure the Olympics spots.
Great for the sport, bad for the governing Olympic committee. All they have to do is just expand the amount of wrestlers allowed to wrestle in each weight class in the Olympics and beyond. TRACK, SWIMMING, and almost every other sport can have multiple entries for each event
I would love to see more weight classes in Olympic wrestling.
It does kind of annoy me a little bit that we have guys that are born, raised, and trained here not compete for us at the Olympic Games, but I’ll still be rooting for them anyway so it’s not that big of a deal
As a veteran, a wrestling holic, and I bleed maize&blue! Of course I would love it if America wins but I will be routing for Micic Amine Gomez and any other Wolverines, I just want to see good wrestling and it doesn’t matter to me if they are from another country, wrestling needs to get as much PR as possible, so strike up conversations about it.
Apparently Amine, Micic & Gomez were not good enough to make Team USA. So they go get a watered down medal and call themselves an Oylimpic Medalist. C'mon man !
@@greggrhoades3796 call it what you want it’s still a medal or championship in international competitions. All for more athletes from here and dominating internationally. Ask yourself why these wrestlers aren’t winning medals for us? Why aren’t they getting a chance?
I feel the same way...I'm a wrestle-a-holic and a lifelong Michigan fan. I'm happy for Micic, Amine, and Gomez.
I'm also Puerto Rican and cheer for both the U.S. team and the Puerto Rican team.
If you have lived a large majority of your life in the US and had all your successes in the US in said sport, why not rep that? Where has the American pride gone? These athletes want to rep another country, then get the hell out of the US and don’t come back. We don’t need them. We should start adopting what Japan does, no dual citizenship, you pick one and that’s final.
@@johnpholmes9646 One thing that I believe is being overlooked is that most, if not all of these athletes would prefer to wrestle for the U.S. but can't beat the top wrestler in their weight class. So they see another opportunity to compete through another country that they have an ethnic tie to and they take that opportunity.
It's all a matter of perspective. If they could represent the U.S. then they would.
This has been happening for years in Russia. Especially common when a Russian wrestler has a poor performance at a World or European Championship Event. It seems when this happens their chances of being selected as an Olympic representative for Russia goes down significantly and they defect to represent another country. I have always wondered if the US selection progress wasn't so gruelling if they would have better results at Olympic/World Championships. Imagine an athlete such as David Taylor for example being able to solely focus on preparing for peak performance at the Olympics. This may also improve their ability to qualify weight classes more effectively.
In Russia it's a bit more complicated because many of the "defecting" wrestlers think of themselves as Chechens, Dagestanis, Ingush or whatever ethnicity they are first, and "Russian" a distant second. Some of them are down with the whole Russian patriotism..but many aren't even if they don't say so publicly, which is real bad for your health in Russia.
Since their people are not allowed to have real autonomy or statehood(at gunpoint I might add), their achievements on the mat matter regardless of whether they represent Russia or somebody else. What matters is Dagestani wrestling stronk.
@@Darwinist I agree however that being said I do believe that the majority of athletes that are born and trained within the modern day borders of Russia still prefer to represent Russia rather then a different country.
Take Khetik Tsabolov for example. Highly talented and internationally successful wrestler who is extremely proud of his North Ossetian heritage. He represented Russia for years at World and Olympic Championships. Only now that he has suffered a few major losses in recent years he has made the choice to transfer to Serbia.
The same can be said for Dauren Kurugliev, (Dagestan Heritage) who represented Russia for years at the 86kg division. He recently transferred to Greece because I suspect he in some way or another was informed he would not be selected for the next Russian Olympic Team.
I agree with your sentiment that these Non Ethnically Russian are less tied to the importance of representing the mother land lol, however I still do believe it’s holds some importance or we would see many other Russian athletes transferring out at much earlier ages.
I don’t think it’s defecting from their perspective. He has dedicated his life to getting a gold believes he can, and if he has the option he now has another shot at getting gold if he wrestles for another country! Thats an awesome opportunity for them I don’t think has much to do with allegiances as is who view the Olympics nation vs nation, competitors view it as proving they are the best in the world. They can hit their goal through a mother nation temporarily
USA wrestling needs to adapt with the times and send the best representative based on performance against international competition. Russia does this and almost always qualifies for the olympics. The tournament and wrestle off system is so outdated.
Agreed. We should have sent Spencer Lee. Zane Richards had one surprising good year, the best year he’s ever had. But Spencer Lee is consistent here after year.
I can’t begrudge San Marino for trying to get some notoriety - nor the Amine family for bringing some love/honor to San Marino, a place most people have probably never heard of.
Apologies to all the smoke jacket wearing intellectuals on wrestling twitter.
Again, it is totally within the rules BUT
All Puerto Ricans are US citizens just not all US citizens are Puerto Rican.... it's kinda wild
LIKE ITS THE SAME COUNTRY LOL
What country a wrestler represents is no one’s business this is a weird topic to even bring up at all. They’re the ones getting on the mats and wrestling not you 😅
Athletes should represent the country they were born in.
@@HaroldBluetooth-uz1zzno they should represent who tf they want to represent. Especially if we already have someone for the US. Make it make sense
@@xzjayz7925 You don’t get to represent who you want to represent. You are a citizen and you stay loyal to your country like a true citizen. Either you are American or you are not. Pick a side!
@@HaroldBluetooth-uz1zz this argument literally falls apart immediately when someone is a duel citizen. Because then you can be both. Imagine a country established by immigrants looking for a better opportunity now judging people looking for a better opportunity.. look yourself in the mirror
@@KingYanoFPS fake news! your response makes zero sense and is contradictory.
AMAZING! Most Americans would 100% dismiss Stevan Micic, Myles Amine, RBY, Austin Gomez and Darian Cruz as potential representatives at their weight class. Now all 5 of them are Olympians with a World Champ and a 2x World/Olympic Bronze medalists. USA guys should get better or the U.S should change its system so guys like Zane Richards don’t get sent to Pan Am Qualifiers 🤷🏾♂️. Literally ALL of those would be considered the 4th option at the highest at their potential weight classes domestically. They owe nothing to Team USA
Whoa. The fuck are you talking about. You realize Zane has been a top guy for over a decade. It had nothing to do with sending him and everything to do with the fact that you cant predict how someone will perform at the international level. No one knew burroughs would be as good as he was, no one ever thought kyle dake would be a world team memeber, no one expected david to ever make a world team let alone move up a weight class that he wasnt successful in early on. Theres nothing wrong with USAs system and if we're being honest is probably the most clear cut when it comes down to it sending the "best" guy because that in it of itself is speculative. Its not like he lost to a nobody he lost to a guy who with the right people behind him can beat anybody in the world
"USA guys should get better"
you must've missed the part in the video where Pyles said Zane was 3-0 against Cruz prior to this match. Additionally, Team USA is in title contention for every world-level competition. It's not like they suck.
"U.S. should change its system so guys like Zane Richards don't get sent to Pan Am Qualifiers"
Zane is a 2x world team member and competed at Worlds twice. If someone wanted to challenge for the spot, someone like Suriano, Lee, Fix, etc., they could have. They didn't.
@@kristopherwilson506 no they couldn’t have. The only two guys who could have challenged for the spot were two guys in college who wrestle a weight class up and are in the middle of preparing for their conference championships. Sending Zane was stupid. Point blank. Dude did bad at the World Championships and he had just got embarrassed at some just got teched 11-0 by a guy who’s not even in conversation for a medal at the weight at the beginning of the year. When they announced it I said we should send someone else. I was right. It’s not hindsight. No one said Team USA sucked. What I did say is that we haven’t even qualified 57kg
@@apollo105 you’re 100% wrong about no one thinking that Kyle Dake and David Taylor would ever even make a World Team. Literally almost no one believed that when they graduated college. You should also completely stop watching freestyle wrestling if you think Darian Cruz can beat anybody in the world. Cruz can not TOUCH Uguev, Abakarov, Higuchi and probably a handful of other guys too. 2024 Olympics could be ran 1000 times over and Cruz wins a grand total of zero of them
@earnyourgold Show me one person circa 2013 who said kyle or david would be on the world team at their respective weights and ill show you a liar. David couldnt beat kyle kyle couldnt beat jordan jden moved up opening the door for david who wasnt that great at 86kg in the beginning and as far as darian he just beat zane who beat gilman and suriano who has a win over spencer who hasnt been healthy long enough to make a legitimate run at anything who have all been considered better than micic who is a world champion so idk where your gathering your data from but its wrong. Kyle even moved to 86 at one point because jordan was that good so idk if you just ride the bandwagon like the rest of the flo crew but your wrong
I’m always gonna root for the U.S. wrestling team but it’s a good thing to see some of the other elite guys get their shot.
Nothing wrong with a wrestler going to another country where he can wrestle. Lets not make a big deal out of it.
I think this scenario stinks. I also follow track and field and was a pole vaulter in my younger days. The other bizarre story in T&F is Mondo Duplantis. He was born and raised in the US. His mother is from Sweden. As a freshman in high school he chose to represent Sweden at a U18 junior event. My guess is that there would be less competition to make the team at that point and he had an older brother that did the same. Now his career has excelled where he continues to break world records. I laugh every time he does an interview and speaks perfect (American) English without any foreign (Swedish) accent.
This would NOT be a factor or problem if the OG would allow 10 weights and then 3 men, or even two men, from the USA in each weight. Open it up, Olympic Committee!!
If you listen to those guys' interviews, they know most of the USA Wrestling fans will not get behind them as they represent other countries. And from their interviews, they don’t speak their mother tongue. It comes down to them being on the Olympic team. But yes, it sucks that Kevin Jackson, former USA wrestling coach coached Mexico to victory over the United States.
I feel like Americans wrestling for other countries isn’t a big deal as we essentially see it happen in track and field where the athlete lives, trains and is an American but runs for another country. Same thing happens in Basketball and other sports. Remember, our population is only surpassed by India, China and maybe Russia
There’s nothing wrong with athletes competing for another country if it gives them a better opportunity at a world/ Olympic medal. I literally can’t wrap my head around any complaints against it other than “Murica”
Then go and live in that country. Go train in that country, go get your education in that country. I'm sure Mexico has done a lot for Gomez & RBY. Give all of us a break. No one is that dumb !
@@greggrhoades3796 yeah see you’re the typical “murica” I was talking about 😂 competition is about the best facing off against the best. Wrestling has some team sport aspects but it’s an individual sport at its core. The team is about as important as being red or blue. Everyone just wants to see good wrestling matches
@@joeycisneros9484not when it comes to representation of our country.. they used our coaches our facilities our health care to stay healthy just to hop ship when the time comes fuck that.. dudes are losers in my eyes
I understand yours and others perspective, as I am an avid fan of the sport. I have my opinion on this and I see it different. You mock, America with Murica, smh. You obviously lack national pride, maybe recuse yourself from it then?
@@johnpholmes9646 See the ignorance in your response is why I mock those with your stance. How tf do you get from wanting to see good wrestling matches to needing to leave the place I was born in and not having pride in my country? See the drastic jump there? Be serious lol
You do realize the rules for the Olympic rules are the same in every sport around the world, right? What about the Africans running for America? Or Canadian hockey players in the U.S? If they meet the requirements (usually a parent from the country) then it works both ways.
Super valid statement/stance if the issue is just being bummed about your team losing some good guys! But I don't know that everyone else who takes issue with Americans representing other countries is seeing it through that lens and not more of an "they are being traitors" to the country it's self rather than a sports team, sort of vibe!! I personally am all for whatever is best for indivual athletes
I don't blame these guys for going to their heritage countries to qualify for the Olympics since they would not make the US Olympic team. But absolutely 💯 Team USA 🇺🇸
Great video, Christian. Note: looks like your lens needs to be cleaned. There are a couple of spots near the center.
I know! I (Tyler) cleaned it this morning! Sorry about that.
Its bad when they're beating American guys who won their weightclass for the US team spot who are supposed to be better than them. Nothing you can do it about it though. Gotta live with it. American wrestling is peaking and trickling talent into other national teams
I wont cheer for them. I dont like our resources (coaches and mat time, money, etc) are supporting people who are not representing our country. I would have less heartburn about it if they lived and trained in those countries,
Just want to say for those unaware, Puerto Rico is not a country, it is a US territory.
Good opportunity for the wrestlers. Bad for team USA
I see no benefit to the USA and I agree with Jordan Burroughs on this topic. Don’t train here and get all the benefits of what the USA offers to then represent another country. Just my opinion .
It's bad, they should have to live there year round. Their teams need to bring their own Wrestlers, not USA wrestlers who coudn't make our USA team.
That is a "True" statement.
If Americans didn’t wrestle for other teams, we would not enjoy as much wrestling as we do.
So if you want to wrestle for a different country train and live there as well
100%
Or, these wrestlers can follow the rules and do exactly what they're doing.
100% Agree. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.
This isn’t a problem imo cuz this is common for soccer players that have dual nationalities where they choose to represent one country over another
It’s lame. If you’re American, you wrestle for America. Simple. And no need to apologize to those who cry “American Exceptionalism”. And if you’re on that train, bye ✌🏻If you don’t love America, then find a country that you can root for and go be a patriot for that country. But if you do, fight to represent the land that brought you up.
My option is that if you benefit from this country and you're a citizen then the USA is how you should represent no matter what!!
What is tony ferguson doing in the thumbnail?
Lol
@@Nogi520haha
Good. Let em wrestle!!
Have Spencer Lee qualify the weight before you ruin it for him and get rid of the 57kg fluke who's the reason the weight isnt qualified.
Good, they get on the mat and represent their family's heritage.
This is better for the sport as a whole. It makes the field a lot more competitive instead of having those guys possibly sitting at home if they were to qualify for the team usa spot. Same with the Russians leaving to represent other nations and winning world championships.
There’s nothing wrong with this. The only reason they are now questioning this whole thing is because it puts the US in a worse spot especially because they didn’t qualify those weights. It only makes it more competitive and it makes things more entertaining.
Put a $ amount on the gold silver and bronze would make a difference. Paid out by donors or big corporations
The point is our tax dollars are paying to train other countries. Let the American people vote on that guys! People can root for who they want , sure nobody is denying that. Most Americans don’t want to be defrauded. My taxes are being misused if it in any way helps our opponents on any field of competition.
I feel like CP is really underestimating how much the fans hated LeBron’s move to Miami. Many still blame him for “ruining” the nba.
Why shouldn't they? If you can earn a spot on the team and meet the criteria why tue hell not?!
People need to stop whining about this. It's very simple, if you have dual citizenship you have every right to represent whichever country you choose. The USA wrestlers need to step it up plain and simple. If the USA didn't qualify that's on the wrestler who was representing us in that weight class. It's also not switching teams, WTF is that logic?!? You have DUAL CITIZENSHIP, which means you are on both teams 😂 You can decide which to represent in international sport. Get over it.
But they don't have dual citizenship. I don't think anyway. And if any do now, I'm pretty confident they just decided to do that in the same breathe as deciding to wrestle for them. So it's a charade...
@@rootsgrassusa They have to be a citizen of the country they represent and it doesn't really matter when they got it. If you're eligible for dual citizenship then you're eligible. Your logic isn't logic'ing. You are also assuming things and your underlying assumptions are wrong. RBY can't just go wrestle for Mexico because he's ethnically Mexican. He has to be a citizen of Mexico, which he is. Tucson is only an hour from the border. His grandparents are Mexican, so kick rocks buddy.
yeah it does. my second point addressed it... it doesnt matter when they got it? in this debate it does bc the main pooint i mentioned is its a charade... theyre not doing it bc they had legit dual citizenship that had nothing to do with wrestling and theyre equally parts of both countries. theyre doing it for wrestling and wrestling alone... try to keep up if you want to (try to) be a condescending schmuck. its a charade and thats the only logic thats there and everyone with a brain knows what the deal is... @@TheSonoranDesertGrower
im sure a vast percentage of people in the wrestling world have grandparents from some other country. vitos actual parents are from italy. but he didnt defect and pull this charade, bc he knows hes american and hes not a circus freak@@TheSonoranDesertGrower
@@rootsgrassusa Keep on hating bro. Having dual citizenship is beautiful and your all butt hurt over basic rights people have when they share ancestry with another land. You keep thinking you know everything and everyone's intent. It's good for the sport and there is just going to be more of this in the future. We are such a diverse country. Athletes in every sport do this for the Olympic games. The xenophobia in wrestling is dumb AF 💯
I think all of this is great for our sport. Whether they wrestle for USA or another country, its all good
Honestly this guy is making no sense , especially using the Lebron example that has no parallel to these scenarios.
This sounded just like a rant.
A biased rant at that as well. “This is just sports””smoking jackets” ???? I think he was under the influence while speaking during this whole video. These American wrestlers took an easier route because they are ethnically lucky and it worked out!!! That’s awesome. I still see it as an American win.
It's advantageous to the US team because they aren't qualified for teams that rival them in the medal table.
were they born in that country? don't say your mom or dad was born there. Total bull&*()
I own plenty of sweat shirts, both hooded and without. No smoking jacket though.
"This is an Orioles family" 😂😂 I love these monologues.
They should go live there if they want to represent that country. No problem with it but I'll be a bunch of those wrestlers whose spots they're taking think it sucks.
Anyone wrestling for North Central or South AMERICA is still wrestling for the AMERICAS
I assume these guys all have dual citizenship?
Exactly, they can choose who to represent. RBY's grandparents are Mexican. His grandfather mentored him in wrestling. Tucson is only an hour away from Mexico.
@@TheSonoranDesertGrowerPeople are perplexed that a kid who grew up in a population of 75% Mexicans would not be ethnocentric to his entire childhood and culture. Coached by his Mexican grandfather as a child then a Mexican head coach in high school.. if I have duel citizenship(go through the steps to get it) I am 100% competing for Mexico. It makes sense from a competitive and monetary standpoint(brand growth as an Olympian) as well
@@TheSonoranDesertGrower I would be surprised if grandpa Bravo has Mexican citizenship
@@joinordie22 I live in Tucson and have dual citizenship. It's not that rate out here bro.
@@TheSonoranDesertGrower i live in Mesa
Good
I think that's way way easier said than done to "stay in the US." The US team is deeeeep! In a lot of weights I bet we have the top 2 wrestlers in the world, we definitely have multiple guys that could place at every weight. If you are 2nd, 3rd, 4th best guy from the US you're screwed; you can't be on the team or go to worlds or olympics. Plus these guys need to make some $$$ too.
I bet all these guys would prefer to wrestle for the USA and be on the best team in the world, but our team is sooo good! Gomez for example would need to beat Nick Lee, Joey Mckenna, Yianni, Andrew Alirez, Seth Gross, Beau Bartlett, etc., etc., etc.
Gomez beat Nick Lee,Zane Rutherford at Pan Ams thats why U.S didn't qualify the weight!
@@normanhuntley5747 lol i get that but to make the US team he would have to beat all these guys at least in placings. It's a much more difficult process and not a single match. In addition last time Gomez wrestled Nick I think he got pinned haha
@@dinocollins720 never mind apparently you don't know anything in reguards to Pan AM NOTa single match,its a tournament!
@@normanhuntley5747 🤦♂the competition at Pan am is not even close to competition in the US that's the point. They didn't even wrestle finals
@@normanhuntley5747he didn't beat Zain Retherford, Zain wrestles 70kg not 65kg. He beat Nick Lee.
Its good for the sport unless we think that America dominating the entire western hemisphere is good for the sport. It will seed the art of wrestling into places that are lagging, plus how are you going to tell someone they can't compete for their family's country. That country made that family too. History doesnt begin and end in America.
I think it is great. I will be watching so much more. We just need bigger names wrestling Greco
How much US resources have gone to helping make these guys what they are today? A lot of tax dollars at least
It doesn’t bother me. Baskeball, baseball, hockey, soccer, track, lots of athletes come to the USA to play and make $$. Then they go home to represent their country.
In all Olympic sports, I cheer for the athlete. Don’t care about the country. Just watched the indoor track and field championships. Was cheering for many non Americans because I like the specific athlete.
Why wrestle for another country . . . odd
💰
Can't make the US team. Look at the tough competition. Most of the guys wrestling for another country would not make the US team. Several wt classes have world champions holding the spots. 57 will be loaded. Pick a wt, US is loaded.
Sucks, but it’s no one’s business except for that individual wrestler’s.
Not a fan of this, but it happens in other sports as well
this may not be the nicest view but I feel if you qualify for another country you cannot train again in the US to compete in that sport.
It's actually not that harsh of a take. There is a degree of fairness to it.
You nailed it. Send them packing.
What happened with Spencer Lee??
Lol you know the usual 😅
Zane earned the spot on the world team to represent Team USA, not Spencer. I hope Spencer is at the last chance qualifier.
I think its good.
Represent the country you live in and the country that built you. Common sense is out the window with people in this chat. All these countries did for folks like the Amine’s, RBY, Gomez, micic, etc is ran their family off because the country was so shitty. They are taking the easy way through because there’s no competition in these countries. Born in America, train in America, grew up in America, live in America, take advantage of the American system…represent the country that provided for you….not turn your back on it
They're dual citizens. They can represent any country they want that the are legal citizens of. Get over it.
"common sense" lol
Russia does it why can't we?
I found out today i have nipples:/ please keep me in your thoughts as I navigate this confusing time.
Bottom line is, you either is or you ain't.
American wrestlers not wrestling for America is BS plain an simple Benedict Arnolds
Is San Marino a real country ?
The problem it’s not fair but that’s life what is fair nothing
You just keep rooting christian opaques last America and pretty soon...Oh never mind, its here.
Go O’s
love that you brought up Mićić because no one had anything to say when he wrestled for Serbia… no backlash certainly did not have askren shitting on him for it??videos being made about it but was actually praised! Oh but now it’s a problem when Latin Americans choose to wrestle for their home country 🤔🤔
The Olympics and Worlds are meant to be represented by athletes that live in their country. I am fine with athletes from America representing other countries but they should have to move their and live in those countries to be able to represent them. This was the purpose of the games, but technological advances, such as airplanes and such have made jaunting to these other countries to wrestle in their national tournament easy and cheap. When these games started traveling to these other countries was very difficult. The rules should be amended to your primary residence must be in the country you represent.
In this case 75-80% of wrestlers wouldn’t be representing their own countries. Not every country has great infrastructure for wrestling. A lot of wrestlers from countries outside of USA or Russia are traveling to different countries constantly seeking adequate training
I think it should be the best guys vs the best guys
@judajitsu In your argument we should just get rid of the Olympics’ and country representation and just go to a best in the world with no one representing any country and just do a world event with wrestler competing against other wrestlers wearing no country or flag.\. Russia would be good with this. I enjoy watching country compete against country. If you don’t then that is your opinion and I’m good with that. But it defeats the entire premise of the Olympics.
@lukeebes4275 Then just get rid of country representation and the Olympics and what they represent, and just go to a 1 world event. I personal like country against country. If you don't, like I said, I'm fine with that, you are welcome to your onion. Russia would love your platform.
Plain and simple represent your country where you were born where do you go to school where you work where you have your family
And before anyone starts I am first generation American
I was born in America I went to school in America I work in America I own my house in America I started my family in America
People and family that live in Mexico do not consider me Mexican
I am an American
Same should go for these athletes that are jumping ship
If you have dual citizenship you have the right to represent the country of your choosing. Plain and simple. You are equally a citizen of both countries.
Hate it. Have some national pride.
stevan micic has no business representing serbia he is from the usa that’s not fair they’re american and giving other countries credit for something they don’t deserve. they’re not taking an opportunity they’re taking the easy way out cause rby doesn’t wanna wrestle spencer nick vito daton
Who’s an “American “ nowadays? Everyone is from everywhere. The pride of being an American is clearly dying. Without question.
It is a classless move. So disrespectful to the USA. Why didn't Gomez & RBY attend a college in Mexico ? No they took the very best America had to offer in the way of Coaching and Education only to put their own selfish interest ahead of the USA. Same goes for Cam Amine. He actually feels he is an Oylimpic Bronze Medalist. Give me a break. It has been said that you can't teach class. This is a perfect example of that. Shame on these guys.
It sucks! Why they couldn’t make the USA team!
Ridiculous analogies. Trying to draw comparisons of allegiance between representing your country, and rooting for professional sports teams...and professional athletes jumping teams...seriously??
You can dismiss this as nonsense and harmless..."whats the big deal, I love these guys and hope they do well"...I would 100% agree to that, except, they're Americans. These guys are great and Gomez is one of my favorite wrestlers, but these younger generations are lacking in principles. I get it...they have goals and dreams. I can appreciate that, but at what cost? Defeating your own country? This country is imperfect and its going through some growing pains, but, and call me old fashioned, naive, a hater, etc...call me a douchebag, IDC...but Americans don't change teams and square off to beat other Americans wearing our colors in international competition.
I can clearly see that Im in the minority with my opinion, but Im a little confused on when it became acceptable to casually switch national allegiance and compete against your home country.
That's Bullsh*t if your nationality (passport) is American, but you wrestle for another country. Only if you were BORN in that other country and you were NATURALIZED here, I can see you wrestling for that other country
Puerto Rico is different US territory. So technically Darian Cruz gets a pass.
Mixed feelings sure it's good that Mexico gets more exposure to wrestling, no problem there. Problem is the loyalty. Would be the same if a war came up and someone became a draft dodger. Opportunity is fine the move there and forfeit your US citizenship.
Do you guys edit your damn articles? According to genius Travis Johnson Truax was pinned by Maryland guy. Ryder Rogotzke from Ohio state was the guy that did it. Why not have someone look it over before posting? Lol
Most of these comments are focused on how this affects USA. What about how it affects the athletes from those countries. Gomez (American and Lives in USA) stole a spot on Mexican team from an actual Mexican wrestler (Mexican and lives in Mexico). USA wrestlers are ruining other nations programs by doing this.
USA all the way, baby! I am 75 so I don't get it wrestling for another country, if you want to wrestle for another country stay and live there for the rest of your life.