Arutyunyan Frustrated, Considering Quitting

Arutyunyan Frustrated, Considering Quitting

After yesterday's 66kg final Serbia's Davor Stefanek walked away with the gold medal, but not without discussion. Migran Arutyunyan of Armenia was winning b

Aug 17, 2016 by Michael Malinconico
Arutyunyan Frustrated, Considering Quitting
After yesterday's 66kg final Serbia's Davor Stefanek walked away with the gold medal, but not without discussion. Migran Arutyunyan of Armenia was winning by a score of 1-0 with a little over a minute left in bout when the referee offered a passivity on him, his second, making the score 1-1 with criteria in favor of the Serbian.  Typically, the wrestler who is more offensive and taking ground will get at least 1 opportunity from top.  Arutyunyan was more aggressive for the entirity of the bout but was given no opportunity from top.  The more passive Stefanik was given an inexplicable two chances from top, giving him the 1-1 advantage late with less than a minute to go.

Arutyunyan, knowing that time was an issue, promptly stood up from the down position to face his opponent and continue wrestling. With a full minute left to wrestle Arutyunyan pressured forward gaining mat space and yet the officials stayed dormant. Time expired. Arutyunyan was left with a silver medal, 


Visibly distraught from the controversial loss Arutyunyan told Wrestling.Russia that he wants nothing to do with the Olympic Games anymore.  Even going as far as to say "I do not want the trash to be here. I want it be far from me." Voicing his frustration Arutyunyan went on to say "I am no longer interested in anything, any sport, any Olympic medal. I repeat, it is all rubbish."  This is the translation from the above Instagram post.

Still visibly upset on the medal stand, Arutyunyan was reluctant to accept his silver medal from United World Wrestling president Nenad Lalovic. Emotional from the loss, Arutyunyan has expressed via social media that he will not compete again, but nothing has been officially confirmed.

The call was discussed in our day 3 recap by Christian Pyles and Dan Lobdell.