An Olympic combat sport in which competitors use throws, takedowns, and pins, with attacks allowed across the whole body.
Origin and rules
Freestyle wrestling evolved from catch-as-catch-can wrestling popular in 19th-century Britain and the United States. Two wrestlers in a circular mat compete to score points or pin their opponent’s shoulders to the mat for one second.
How it plays
Matches consist of two three-minute periods. Points are awarded for takedowns, exposure of the opponent’s back, reversals, and out-of-bounds. Unlike Greco-Roman, freestyle allows attacks below the waist and use of the legs.
Competition
The UWW World Wrestling Championships and the Olympic tournament headline international play. The United States, Russia, Iran, Japan, and Georgia are top freestyle nations. Wrestling has been Olympic since the first modern Games in 1896.
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Wrestling (Freestyle) starts with W and ends with E. Browse other sports along the same letter.
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