GSP wants to wrestle in the Olympics? It's not that easy

[Jura]

Mon Nov 16, 2009 2:55 pm EST
GSP wants to wrestle in the Olympics? It's not that easy (http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/GSP-wants-to-wrestle-in-the-Olympics-It-s-not-t?urn=mma,202598)
By Maggie Hendricks (http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter?author=Maggie+Hendricks)

http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/ept_sports_mma_experts__14/ept_sports_mma_experts-724723330-1258401242.jpg?ymbH0NCDUjTA_Auv

Georges St. Pierre said he's going to try to wrestle for Canada in 2012. (http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/GSP-Sees-2012-Olympics-as-a-Possibility-20919) Competing for your country in the Olympics is an amazing feat, and a worthy goal for a competitor like St. Pierre. There is one problem, though. Canada is already pretty well stocked with wrestlers at 74 kg (163 lbs.), the weight GSP would likely compete at.

Matt Gentry, an NCAA champion for Stanford University, represented Canada at the 2008 Olympics at 74 kg. Now an assistant coach at Stanford, Gentry plans to try for the Olympics again in 2012. He points out that having GSP in the mix could strengthen Canada's delegation, but it isn't easy to get there.

"Evan McDonald is the number one guy in Canada at that weight. If St. Pierre comes in, there's going to be a lot of depth at that weight," Gentry told Cagewriter. "That kind of depth is only going to make our country better. It will make the representative who ends up competing more tested, and they'll have to work harder to earn that spot, which will pay off in the long run."

McDonald wrestled for Canada in the world championships this past September. If GSP were to try to wrestle in the Olympics, he would need to get through both Gentry and McDonald. With such little freestyle wrestling experience, it could be difficult.

"He does have good takedowns, he does have good blast doubles, but it's hard to make the comparison," Gentry said. "But [MMA fighters] stand upright. I've seen those blast doubles, and he's certainly a horse in terms of conditioning, but it is pretty different. It's such a technical sport."

Yes, St. Pierre is very adept at using wrestling during fights. However, there is a huge difference between taking down a striker like Thiago Alves at will and trying to do the same against Buvaisar Saitiev, the Russian gold medalist (http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/From-the-what-if-files-Russian-wrestler-Buvaisa?urn=mma,167223) at GSP's weight class and one of the most dominant wrestlers of the past decade.

Just qualifying your country's weight class for the Olympics is a difficult feat. It requires the wrestler to take a top eight placing at the 2011 World Championships, win their continental championship -- for GSP, it would be the Pan-American Championships -- or win one of the two qualifying tournaments. How hard is that? Only one country, Russia, qualified wrestlers in every weight class for Beijing. Out of eighteen weight classes, Canada qualified ten of them in 2008.

Making Canada's team is also a time-intensive feat. GSP would need to start with the Canadian national championships in 2011 to become part of the ladder of competitors for the Olympic Trials. After that, GSP would need to win the Canadian Olympic Trials, usually held in December of the year before the Olympics. This would tie up GSP for more than a year.
Still, Gentry isn't going to look past St. Pierre if he does try for the Olympics.

"He's a competitor, I'm sure that he'll be tough to beat, no matter what he's competing in."

[The Mask]

he trains with olympic level wrestlers as far as i'm aware. they mentioned it usually when he's on a ppv.

[Fignuts]

Saitiev would crush him. I don't care who he trains with.

[Reavant]

it doesnt matter who he trains with he would never be able to touch them in an olympic style match

[HeartBreakMan2k]

Saitiev would crush him. I don't care who he trains with.

Agreed.

Plus like Rev said, there's a huge difference in wrestling for MMA and wrestling to wrestle. I'm a wrestler by trade that got into MMA because i'm not good enough to compete now that I'm out of college, that being said I'm far and away one of the better wrestlers at my gym in a MMA sense and the few that have just out right freestyled with me for shits and giggles got destroyed. They do ok when we're training for MMA but freestyle is DRASTICALLY different.

[YOUR Hero]

If he made it, regardless of how well he would do, it would sure raise the profile of the sport for a large portion of the population.

[Funky Fly]

Wasn't he invited to train for the Olympics last time around?

Plus, he did make Josh Koscheck look like a joke, and Kos actually has a wrestling record comparable to Lesnar.

If it really happens, it's all going to come down to GSP having the ability to retrain himself in just a couple of years.

[HeartBreakMan2k]

Wasn't he invited to train for the Olympics last time around?

Plus, he did make Josh Koscheck look like a joke, and Kos actually has a wrestling record comparable to Lesnar.

If it really happens, it's all going to come down to GSP having the ability to retrain himself in just a couple of years.

He did but it's still totally different, KOS while wanting to wrestle still has to be cautious about strikes etc. In freestyle he doesn't, so that changes the playing field. Plus the scoring system is so different.

And yeah, he was invited but it was more a PR thing for Canada's wrestling contingent. Not saying I don't think with the focus on STRICTLY wrestling he wouldn't do well on the basis of his athleticism alone, just saying he won't be an Olympic caliber wrestling while training MMA.

[Funky Fly]

Not disagreeing with you.

[Fabien Barthez]

But if average types like us can question all this, surely Georges has. And clearly he disagrees with these notions, because he must have thought about all this, and has still gone public with his intentions.

It's not like it is worth any money to him, purely for competition, and he doesn't seem like the type of guy who would soil his reputation if he really had no hope of achieving his goals.

[The Mask]

how often do olympic style wrestlers train? like during downtime, like right now as opposed to the run up to the olympics.

[The Mask]

also surely if you train mma you must train wrestling both as just wrestling and then wrestling for mma. like at my place we train bjj as just bjj, as well as bjj for mma.

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

George is a freak athlete, so you never know. He probably has the potential.

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

Georges

[Reavant]

how often do olympic style wrestlers train? like during downtime, like right now as opposed to the run up to the olympics.

they dont stop.... they still train almost every day. My camp i fight out of was a wrestling school first. They bring in the the national wrestlers all the time to run camps and that is all they do is train. They are freaks with their mind on only one thing and that is making the olympics.

[Reavant]

But if average types like us can question all this, surely Georges has. And clearly he disagrees with these notions, because he must have thought about all this, and has still gone public with his intentions.

It's not like it is worth any money to him, purely for competition, and he doesn't seem like the type of guy who would soil his reputation if he really had no hope of achieving his goals.

ur giving him too much credit... its like lebron james ( a pro basketball player) saying he could help the browns ( a pro football team of the same city as him) out and improve their season

you also have to figure in his ego and the fact that people are calling him the best wrestler in mma.

[Reavant]

also surely if you train mma you must train wrestling both as just wrestling and then wrestling for mma. like at my place we train bjj as just bjj, as well as bjj for mma.

no... there are things that are done in olympic style wrestling that are not applicable to MMA at all... and BIG things. Such as once you take someone down you have to turn them. to get back points. That is a fucking bitch to do let alone the difficulty and pain (especially a gutwrench) it takes to try and stop someone from turning you if you get taken down.


Seriously if GSP ever stepped foot on an olympic mat, he would get teched in about 20 seconds. that means that he would be beat by more than six points and the round ends.... he then has another round to make that up and he would be teched again just as fast. then the match would be over.

In fact you will never see any MMA fighter training the ground wrestling you would see from olympic style fighting. If GSP were to say he was going to enter the NCAA tournament that would be a different story because of the ground fighting rules as long as he stayed off his back.

[Reavant]

Wasn't he invited to train for the Olympics last time around?

Plus, he did make Josh Koscheck look like a joke, and Kos actually has a wrestling record comparable to Lesnar.

If it really happens, it's all going to come down to GSP having the ability to retrain himself in just a couple of years.

hes doing that with simply speed and strength... he has good stand up and he uses that to get his opponent to come ant him and he just drops a level and explodes through the opponent.

When you have to worry about punches and your shooting for the legs standing strait up, it doesnt matter how good of a wrestler you are its a lot more difficult.

[Fabien Barthez]

Well there you go then, GSP has no chance because Reavant says so.

I mean, no doubt he trains with Cannuck national wrestlers, and their coaches, and discusses his skills and potential with those professionals in the field, but Reavant thinks otherwize, so the man is clearly dreaming.

[Reavant]

Stop being a snotty cunt. He trains takedowns. Im sure he might even be able to take down a wrestler or two on his way to the olympics but when it gets to the mat he has no chance. Look up any international wrestling on youtube. I gaurantee you he does not train gutwrench and leg lace defense and offense. It would not only be usless to him in MMA but also hinder him.

[Reavant]

Koscheck is a great wrestler with a national championship to his name, but he would not be able to qualify for the olympics... granted he would be going for an american spot.

[Fabien Barthez]

Well stop pretending you know everything. You don't. You present everything as fact, and not speculation. As if being a low level fighter qualifies you to present your opinions on a world champion as iron clad fact.

[Fabien Barthez]

And frankly, you don't have a fucking clue how he trains and who with. Pisses me off how you 'know it all'.

[Fabien Barthez]

I'm sure this comeback you are currently working on is wonderful, but if you are defending yourself against what I accuse you of, then you are an idiot. Huge, huge idiot.

[Fabien Barthez]

Why don't you waste this time by telling us all how your fight career is shaping up at the moment? I think the majority of people here would rather hear about your person plight in a sport we all enjoy as apposed to your over-inflated 'opinion' on all things that precede you.

[Fabien Barthez]

It has taken you so long to post this, that I will intentionally not be reading it.

[Reavant]

mmmk.... when it comes to wrestling I know my shit. One Ive been a wrestler for over ten years of my life. And a relatively high level one at that. I KNOW how hard it is to try and wrestle at an international level. Ive trained with the likes of Tommy Rowlands (runner up for the heavyweight spot for the US olympic team), Andy Horvat (US olympic team member), Jake Herbert (US olympic team trials finalist), Larry Langowski (mexican olympic team member)... Ive competed against Cole Konrad (NCAA champion), Twice against Dustin Fox (NCAA champion), twice against Mark Ellis (NCAA Champion).... Ive gotten a chance to even roll with rulon gardner and bruce baungartner during a camp when i was in high school.... I have been and am currently coached by Sean Bormet (USA Wrestling Coach of the year on a couple different occasions along with being a 2 time all american) and john Kaeding (4 time all american and national champion) would you like me to go on?

For probable 8 years wrestling was my life. Ive seen the type of dedication it takes to get to that level. These guys I mentioned above do nothing else but train for wrestling. They dont fuck with boxing, muey thai, and jujitsu along with whatever else.

Me currently being a low level fighter has nothing to do with why I feel what I have to say is accurate. The shit I have done, the things Ive experienced in my years of training and competeing are what have formed my view of things.

Now seeing as YOU actually have no idea what the hell you are talking about ever, I didnt really need to go off like this but since you insisted on being such a piece of shit today I figured Id spell it all out for you.

[Reavant]

Why don't you waste this time by telling us all how your fight career is shaping up at the moment? I think the majority of people here would rather hear about your person plight in a sport we all enjoy as apposed to your over-inflated 'opinion' on all things that precede you.

i was just cleared to start training again from the staph infection about 3 weeks ago. Getting back in shape is a hellish experience.

[Fabien Barthez]

mmmk.... when it comes to wrestling I know my shit. One Ive been a wrestler for over ten years of my life. And a relatively high level one at that. I KNOW how hard it is to try and wrestle at an international level. Ive trained with the likes of Tommy Rowlands (runner up for the heavyweight spot for the US olympic team), Andy Horvat (US olympic team member), Jake Herbert (US olympic team trials finalist), Larry Langowski (mexican olympic team member)... Ive competed against Cole Konrad (NCAA champion), Twice against Dustin Fox (NCAA champion), twice against Mark Ellis (NCAA Champion).... Ive gotten a chance to even roll with rulon gardner and bruce baungartner during a camp when i was in high school.... I have been and am currently coached by Sean Bormet (USA Wrestling Coach of the year on a couple different occasions along with being a 2 time all american) and john Kaeding (4 time all american and national champion) would you like me to go on?

For probable 8 years wrestling was my life. Ive seen the type of dedication it takes to get to that level. These guys I mentioned above do nothing else but train for wrestling. They dont fuck with boxing, muey thai, and jujitsu along with whatever else.

Me currently being a low level fighter has nothing to do with why I feel what I have to say is accurate. The shit I have done, the things Ive experienced in my years of training and competeing are what have formed my view of things.

Now seeing as YOU actually have no idea what the hell you are talking about ever, I didnt really need to go off like this but since you insisted on being such a piece of shit today I figured Id spell it all out for you.

Sorry, what did you say? I didn't catch a word.

[Reavant]

:lol:

[Fabien Barthez]

i was just cleared to start training again from the staph infection about 3 weeks ago. Getting back in shape is a hellish experience.

Any fights coming up? Further progress? Pre-tell!

In fact, give this it's own thread. This one has become more about me fucking with you, and it's going to be tough to keep ignoring that big post you made.

[Reavant]

Nah we'll do it here.... My promoter has a spot for me to fight on jan 30th but I dont think I will be ready.

My coach wants me to take about 6-8 months off to get myself back and better, like putting muscle on, getting my cardio back, and working extensively with our new boxing coach.

If I do it my coaches way I will fight one more amature fight and then go pro immediately.

[Reavant]

I started sparring again this past week and it was gross... Ive never been this out of shape before. I dont know how nogiera was treated for his staph infections, but i have a lot more respect for him coming back from it and having problems against mir because of it. That shit was terrible.

[Fabien Barthez]

That seems a long time to be training without a fight at the end of it.
When was your last fight? And when did you get the Staph inf?

[Fabien Barthez]

I think Nog is mentally tough beyond belief. You just have to watch him get smashed in his fights and more than often pull one out of the bag to see that.

[Reavant]

I got the staph infection in august, and 6 weeks with a PICC line in my arm to inject antibiotics. then 4 weeks later I was cleared to train... I had surgury to clean up bone spurs from my elbow which was the original surgury which is why i got the staph infection

[The Mask]

in other news we were practising wrestling takedowns today and i had the good fortune to be matched up with someone both quite a bit bigger and heavier than me. needless to say he landed on my ribs and now i am absolutely fucked to bits.

also i hate shin guards. i used to be fine in muay thai just checking kicks bare leg, now i wear pads and i have something like a huge red 7 inch bruise up both my shins.

WOOO.

[DaveBrawl]

in other news we were practising wrestling takedowns today and i had the good fortune to be matched up with someone both quite a bit bigger and heavier than me. needless to say he landed on my ribs and now i am absolutely fucked to bits.

I hear ya, back when I was training I was paired off with a guy probably close to 280 lbs. which at the time was probably like 60 lbs. bigger than me and we were just practicing basic fireman's carries and dude decided he didn't want to sit down and basically gave me a DVD dropping me right on the top of my head. Luckily he didn't do anything more than stun me.