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Can USA Overtake Russia's Reign As Freestyle Kings?

Can USA Overtake Russia's Reign As Freestyle Kings?

Check out a 20 year breakdown of the best countries in men's freestyle by medals at the world championships and Olympics.

Aug 3, 2021 by Jon Kozak
Can USA Overtake Russia's Reign As Freestyle Kings?
As men’s freestyle in the Olympic Games approaches, we're reminded how good the rest of the world is at freestyle wrestling. In this article, we’ll explore a summary how each country has performed at the world championships and Olympics over the past 20 years. We’ll also analyze how team USA has fared compared to the rest of the world at the world and Olympic level dating back to 2000.

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As men’s freestyle in the Olympic Games approaches, we're reminded how good the rest of the world is at freestyle wrestling. In this article, we’ll explore a summary how each country has performed at the world championships and Olympics over the past 20 years. We’ll also analyze how team USA has fared compared to the rest of the world at the world and Olympic level dating back to 2000.

The 2000s Summary

Russia dominated men’s freestyle from 2000-2009 and it wasn’t close. Of the 72 total medal opportunities, Russia came away with 50 total medals - 36 golds, 5 silvers, and 9 bronze! A number of different points can be brought up to show their dominance. First, they won half of the golds available in 10 years and only lost 5 of the 41 gold medal bouts they wrestled. On top of that, Russia had 27 different wrestlers win those 50 medals!

Of course, comparing Russia to the rest of the field also shows the dominance they display in men’s freestyle. Iran, Cuba, USA, and Ukraine all round out the top 5 in medals but all have less than half of the amount of total medals of Russia. More than that, if you combine those top 5 teams’ gold medals, they are still only a little over a third of the amount of golds as Russia (13 total compared to 36)! Take a look at how the top 10 countries are dispersed in men’s freestyle from 2000-2009:


2010-2019 Summary

Russia continued their dominance from 2010-2019 but the gap closed in golds...slightly. While Russia didn’t win 50% of the golds, they did win 29 of 80 (36.25%) and 59 total medals. That 59 total medals (74%) is actually a higher medal percentage than what they brought home from 2000-2009 (69%). 

Part of Russia’s downward trend in gold medals can be attributed to the increased performance of team USA. From 2010-2019, USA secured 15 gold medals compared to the 4 they won in the previous decade. After USA, Iran is the only country who remained in the top 5 in the consecutive decades. Cuba and Ukraine fell out of the top 5 while Georgia and Azerbaijan took their place. Take a look how the rest of the Top 10 finished from 2010-2019:

After Russia, Who Wins The Most Golds?

Clearly Russia is in the lead with the most golds and total medals in the past 20 years. With 65 golds in 20 years and 101 total medals, Russia has won more golds than the next 6 teams combined and 50 more total medals than second place Iran. After Russia, USA has established itself as the premier gold medal contenders. Though USA finished in third in total medals behind Iran (8 behind), USA has 7 more total golds. 

Take a look below to see how the past 20 years have looked in medals in men’s freestyle:

The Last 5 Years - USA Coming For Russia

Though the disparity is great when looking at the 20 year gap, the picture becomes brighter for Team USA when looking at the last 5 years. USA and Russia have been the two best teams in the world. Analyzing the total medals from the past 5 worlds/Olympics, USA is still 10 medals behind Russia. However, USA has won more gold medals in the last 5 years at 11 than they won in the previous 15 years combined (8). Take a look at how the last 5 years look for Russia and USA.

What Does This Mean For Tokyo?

Russia and USA will be the favorites to bring home the most medals in men’s freestyle and should fight for the team title. Now that both countries have experienced success, anything but a medal at the Olympic weights will be considered a failure by fans of the respective countries. On top of that, both USA and Russia have the potential to bring home at least 3 golds from Tokyo. Could this be the Olympics where USA overtakes Russia as the world's powerhouse or does Russia continue to reign supreme? We’ll find out soon in Tokyo and in should be an Olympics for the ages.