Greco-Roman wrestling has been a feature of the Olympics since 1896. It is the dominant form of competition, with freestyle wrestling coming into the fold in the 1900s.
Greco-Roman Wrestling has entertained sports fans for years as an original sport. It is the most common form of wrestling practiced internationally.
Germany’s Carl Schumann was the first official winner of Greco-Roman wrestling. Russia’s Olympic team, dating back to the Soviet Union, has won 54 world championships while Sweden ranks second on seven.
Four-time Olympic gold medalist Mijain Lopez (Cuba) returns for another crack at gold. Multi-time U.S. medalist Kamal Bey enters the fray and Olympic gold and silver Olympic Zhan Beleniuk (Ukraine) returns to the mats.
MORE: Full schedule for wrestling in the 2024 Olympics
The Greco-Roman Wrestling competition in 2024 has six weight classes:
- 60kg, 67kg, 77kg, 87kg, 97kg, 130 kg
A match consists of two three-minute halves or periods, separated by a 30-second break. What other rules of Greco-Roman wrestling are there, and how is a match scored? How does it differ from freestyle wrestling?
Here’s all you need to know about Greco-Roman wrestling, from the rules to what sets it apart from freestyle.
How are points earned in Greco-Roman wrestling?
Per the official website of the Olympics, “wrestlers can score points by executing holds, locks, throws, or other legal takedowns.”
The value of points are the following:
- A maximum of five points is rewarded from a grand amplitude throw, which forces an opponent to the ground with their back to the mat for several seconds. This move involves the wrestler with the edge controlling their foe.
- Reversals or infractions.
- Pinning an opponent down (both shoulders on the mat) for a significant amount of time results in an instant win.
- Technical superiority (building up a lead with multiple moves) results in an eight-point lead in a match.
A violation can also occur in Greco-Roman. In this specific instance, a violation rewards the active wrestler. They have a choice of continuing the contest after the violation. It could be from a standing or par terre (the inactive wrestler lies outstretched in the middle of the mat) position.
How is Greco-Roman different from freestyle wrestling?
Greco-Roman wrestling is exclusively for men, while freestyle features men and women.
Regarding technique, Greco-Roman wrestling forbids holding below the waist. Wrestlers may not use their legs to perform offensive or defensive moves. They must rely on their upper body only to gain an advantage in a match.
A passivity violation differs from Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling. An evasive wrestler gets put in a favorable position for the active wrestler. After two calls, a bonus point can stop being offered to the active wrestler, but they can still choose to continue the match via standing or par terre.
Olympic Wrestling 2024 tune-in info
- Date: Monday, August 5 - Sunday, August 11
- Locations: Grand Palais Ephemere in Champ de Mars - France
- How to watch:
- U.S.: Peacock | USA Network | Fubo
- CAN: Olympics.com
- U.K.: Olympics.com, BBC.com
- AU: Stan Sport
The Olympics will be available on the USA Network in the U.S. It will also be streamed via Fubo which offers a free trial.