A bluffer’s guide to Greco-Roman wrestling

This is that Ollie Read sport, isn’t it? ‘Women in Love’ and all that. Just replace a fireplace with the eyes of the world and that’s what we have here.

Well, yes, if you like. But really this has far less nudity and far more nuance about it. Greco-Roman wrestling is so much more than just two lumbering apes hanging out of each other.

It is?

It is.

Because you could have fooled me. As far as I can see, it’s the sort of thing you’d see at a Junior B game on a Sunday morning between a hungover full-back and a two-fried-eggs-and-three-rashers full-forward.

Not at all. This is one of the oldest sports in the world. It’s been in every Olympics bar one since 1896. Not to be confused with freestyle wrestling, of course.

Of course. Hang on, not of course. What’s the difference?

Freestyle wrestlers can use any part of the body to pin or throw their opponent to the ground. Greco-Roman wrestlers can use only their arms and upper bodies. So you see, two very distinct sports.

Hmmm. Do they ever double up?

They’ve been known to. In 1932, the legendary Swedish wrestler Ivar Johansson took gold in the Greco-Roman at 72kg before hitting the sauna and losing almost three-quarters of a stone overnight to come out and win the freestyle 62kg event the next day.

Nutjob. So what’s the format?

Three periods of two minutes apiece, with 30 seconds between periods. There was a time when they just went at it till they dropped. In 1912, the semi-final between a Finnish and Russian wrestler lasted 11 hours and 40 minutes.

Wow. Yer man the Swede could get down to the size of one of the women gymnasts in that length of time.

Indeed. Though bulk is important obviously. You win by pinning your opponent to the mat or by amassing points through takedowns, reversals and exposures.

I thought you said there was no nudity?

There isn’t. Exposure is when you expose an opponent’s back to the net for an extended period without actually pinning him.

Also, there is no scratching, biting or pinching.

Why not?

Because it’s not Junior B football on a Sunday morning.

Malachy Clerkin

For a full interactive animated guide to each sport go to irishtimes.com/sport

QUICK NOTES

Top spoofing factoid: Women wrestled at the Olympics for the first time in Athens in 2004.

Do say:Alexander Karelin is the greatest Greco-Roman wrestler of all time.

Don't say:Hulk Hogan could take him.