Wrestling May Be Removed From Olympics
By: Brittany Sweeney
Updated: February 13, 2013
Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County- One of the oldest Olympic sports may cease to exist in the 2020 summer games. The International Olympic Committee recommended dropping that sport, along with seven others.
King's College Wrestler Tommy Desir says "I was very surprised, actually, because I was actually planning to try out for the Olympics so it's very, it's heartbreaking." Desir took to the mat at the age of 13 and has been passionate about the sport ever since. He says "it's such a great sport and it's taught me so many things that I'm just so disappointed, I mean there's not much to do now, you have nothing to look forward to."
Like so many wrestlers and fans around the world, Desir is shocked to hear his beloved past time is one of 7 sports that could be out of the Olympics for good come the summer of 2020. "It's always a goal for wrestlers to reach the Olympic games. How many guys actually make it? Not very many, but the key is it's something to work toward and in this society that's what we do we all work towards something," says Kings College Wrestling Coach Ned McGinley.
Olympians may not be hitting the mat, but wrestlers all around the country are hitting Facebook with their comments. Coach McGinley says "there is almost 100,000 signatures on those social pages that say 'let's support wrestling in the Olympics' and once that happens maybe we will all wake up! Maybe we will come to life now." "A lot of Facebook statuses are going to be made, so I'm just going to tell everyone I mean my friends, my family, just support me and support every other wrestler. Keep the movement going," says Desir. It's a movement that could keep one of the very first Olympic sports from disappearing from the summer games. Desir adds "somehow we'll get it back. I still believe."
This may not be the end for wrestling, the Olympics' Executive Board can make a recommendation to keep one of the 7 sports in the games. The IOC will then vote on the fate of the sport.
King's College Wrestler Tommy Desir says "I was very surprised, actually, because I was actually planning to try out for the Olympics so it's very, it's heartbreaking." Desir took to the mat at the age of 13 and has been passionate about the sport ever since. He says "it's such a great sport and it's taught me so many things that I'm just so disappointed, I mean there's not much to do now, you have nothing to look forward to."
Like so many wrestlers and fans around the world, Desir is shocked to hear his beloved past time is one of 7 sports that could be out of the Olympics for good come the summer of 2020. "It's always a goal for wrestlers to reach the Olympic games. How many guys actually make it? Not very many, but the key is it's something to work toward and in this society that's what we do we all work towards something," says Kings College Wrestling Coach Ned McGinley.
Olympians may not be hitting the mat, but wrestlers all around the country are hitting Facebook with their comments. Coach McGinley says "there is almost 100,000 signatures on those social pages that say 'let's support wrestling in the Olympics' and once that happens maybe we will all wake up! Maybe we will come to life now." "A lot of Facebook statuses are going to be made, so I'm just going to tell everyone I mean my friends, my family, just support me and support every other wrestler. Keep the movement going," says Desir. It's a movement that could keep one of the very first Olympic sports from disappearing from the summer games. Desir adds "somehow we'll get it back. I still believe."
This may not be the end for wrestling, the Olympics' Executive Board can make a recommendation to keep one of the 7 sports in the games. The IOC will then vote on the fate of the sport.
