One of the oldest sports in the existence maybe facing extinction; at least from the Olympics that is.

  The International Olympic Committee decided on February 12, to remove wrestling from the 25 core sports for the 2020 Olympics. This is a travesty on many different levels for the sport. A sport that was kept on was the Modern Pentathlon, a sport that consists of combined shooting, horseback-riding, running, swimming and fencing event. This event garnered an average of 12.5 million viewers, while wrestling had an average of 23 million viewers. This may lead to a crippling effect for the sport as we know it.

  Wrestling can be traced back to the Ancient Greek Olympics, and is even mentioned in Greek mythology when Zeus defeated Cronus in Greco-Roman wrestling. The sport was implemented in the first Olympic Games in 1896 and has been included in every Summer Game since 1908.

  The sport has had its moments of glory over the years, such as in 1982, when Greco-Roman wrestler Jeff Blatnick was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma he had his spleen removed, and he underwent radiation. In the 1984 Games, during the 248 lb. final Blatnick defeated Sweden’s Tomas Johansson. At the end of the match, Blatnick fell to his knees and wept with joy. It was one of the best moments of a already memorable 1984 Olympics.
  Viewers will not soon forget the 2000 Sydney Olympics when Rulon Gardner upset 3-time Olympic Gold Medalist Russian Alexander Karelin in a 1-0 win.

  The 1972 Munich Olympic Games saw the pinnacle of the legendary career of Dan Gable, where he did not surrender a single point.

  The sport losing the Olympics may not seem like a big deal to the common onlooker, but where does a wrestler go after their college career?

  There are no major leagues, and there is no pay-per view matches worth millions of dollars, and there is no end of the season parade. The Olympics are the high point of the sport, what kids aim for when they are young, having a medal placed around their neck and hearing their country’s national anthem.

  What do you tell the young wrestlers now? That their sport is not as important as others, so now their Olympic aspirations should go by the wayside. Wrestling is a sport where the little guy is not the underdog, where determination and technique always outweighs the talent you have been given.

  Collegiate wrestling may also begin to struggle. If the Olympic Committee does not see wrestling as viable sport than why would the NCAA. The lack of a future in the sport will make it hard to find those who want to participate. That is devastating because of the standards that great collegiate icons such as, Gable and Cael Sanderson set as competitors and coaches.

  High School wrestling will take a hit as well which is disappointing to many, especially in the state of Iowa where the sport is king. Wrestling is to Iowa as football is to Texas, or basketball is to Indiana. The state of Iowa goes as the state of wrestling goes.

  It could also hurt local programs like Brandon, who have experienced great success with their wrestling team. The sport had been gaining popularity in Texas and California and was already held in high regard in the Midwest.

  This could tarnish the reputation of the sport and all it stands for, the dreams of potential Olympians now hang in the balance.