India’s dream run for Olympic gold by Vinesh Phogat has come to an unfortunate end. The women’s 50 kg freestyle wrestler cruised past her opponents in the quarter and semifinals. However, Phogat has been disqualified and will return to India without any medals at the Paris Olympics. This has raised a series of questions, with American freestyle wrestling legend Jordan Burroughs voicing his opinion.
Earlier today, Vinesh Phogat was scheduled to participate in her final against USA’s Sarah Ann Hildebrandt. The wrestler has been disqualified since she weighed over 100 grams more than allowed. The regulations of the sport state that Phogat is not even qualified for a silver medal. After the incident, Jordan Burroughs took X and gave a strong suggestion for the Olympics to add more weight classes.
Wrestling needs MORE than six weight classes! After three tough matches against world class opponents, no athlete should have to spend the night preparing for a Gold medal in this manner. Absolute desperation from the Indian team trying to get the last bit of weight off of Vinesh to qualify for today’s final.
Jordan Burroughs via X
The IOC later declared that Yusneylis Guzman, the Cuban wrestler Phogat had vanquished in the semifinal, would take Phogat’s position. She met the weight requirement for Tuesday’s matches, but wrestlers must compete on both days within their weight class.
Maybe stories like this will wake up the IOC.
Wrestling needs MORE than six weight classes!
After three tough matches against world class opponents, no athlete should have to spend the night preparing for a Gold medal in this manner.
Absolute desperation from the Indian team… pic.twitter.com/67l7Uleg1P
— Jordan Burroughs (@alliseeisgold) August 7, 2024
It was reported that Tuesday night, she was two kilograms overweight. She didn’t sleep through the entire night and exerted every effort to fulfill the requirements, including cycling, skipping, and jogging. However, after that effort, she failed to make the weight.
Jordan Burroughs laments the tragic day for India and Vinesh Phogat after Paris Olympics incident
Vinesh Phogat has struggled a lot to reach where she is now. Phogat sustained a serious injury in her quarterfinal match against China’s Sun Yanan at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. She had to be helped off the mat due to severe anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) damage in her right knee. This put an early stop to her Olympic career. This accident threatened her career, and she needed a long time of recuperation and rehabilitation.
Vinesh Phogat after winning the quarter-finals (via X)However, against all odds, Phogat made her comeback. In the wrestling quarterfinals at the Paris Olympics, she defeated fan favorite Yui Susaki of Japan. But all that hard work has gone in vain. Jordan Burroughs was extremely disappointed in what happened and shared a wholesome message on his X account.
My goodness. I don’t think any of us can quite comprehend the future ramifications for Vinesh missing weight this morning. When she awoke today, she was India’s first ever female Olympic finalist, guaranteed at least a silver. Now she will be returning home medal-less….. This is tragic.
Jordan Burroughs via X
My goodness. I don’t think any of us can quite comprehend the future ramifications for Vinesh missing weight this morning. When she awoke today, she was India’s first ever female Olympic finalist, guaranteed at least a silver. Now she will be returning home medal-less. God bless…
— Jordan Burroughs (@alliseeisgold) August 7, 2024
Vinesh Phogat tried her best to shed the weight, but it wasn’t enough. The Indian administration also pleaded to give the wrestler another chance to make the weight, but it didn’t work. It has also been reported that Phogat has since been taken to a medical center inside the village after feeling dizzy due to dehydration. Her team has yet to update the public about her health.
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