Analysis of the Olympic Games

Beijing 2008 Freestyle Wrestling

FILA Competence Centre Prof. Dr. Harold Tünnemann

FILA Coaches Clinic Novembre 2008 IstanbulAnalysis of the Olympic Games Beijing and

the Olympic cycle 2004 - 2008

Freestyle Wrestling

Contents0 Preliminary remarks1. International tendencies of the development of performance in wrestling

2. Analysis of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games2.1. State of performance and development of freestyle wrestling2.1.1 Country-specific aspects2.1.2 Qualitative analysis of combat behaviour2.1.2.1 Combat behaviour of the nations 2.1.2.2 Combat behaviour of the winner

3. Technical-tactical Highlights on a basis of video clips

0 Preliminary remarks

It has already become a good tradition to analyse the top event of the year on the occasion of the international coaches clinic and to draw conclusions for the next period of training. In this process the Olympic Games play an outstanding role and they have an extraordinary importance in the lives of the athletes. However, this does not only apply to the actors on the mats, but also to coaches, referees, officials, and spectators. The results of the Olympic Games reflect the work completed during one Olympic cycle, and an elaborate analysis furnishes the material for the training-methodical work during the next Olympic cycle.

In the following performance and development of performance in freestyle wrestling shall be outlined, and attention shall be directed on progresses and deficiencies. In order to support in-depth analyses by coaches and athletes we place at your disposal videos with the best technical actions at the Olympic Games, a new edition of the DVD-ROM “Fascination Wrestling-special Olympic Edition” with the updated database and individual video sequences of the Olympic Games 1988 until 2008 as well as a DVD with highlights of the Beijing Olympic Games.

1. International tendencies of the development of performance in wrestling

As Mr. Jacques Rogge, the president of the IOC, closed the Olympic Games in Beijing with the words “These were truly exceptional Games!” the whole wrestling family could also be full of praise for the perfect organisation of the Chinese hosts. The Chinese responsible persons for our sport, the spectators and the nice volunteers especially made the Olympic Games to an unforgettable event for us. So we can support with all one's heart Mr. Rogge’s conclusion: “Through these Games, the world learned more about China, and China learned more about the world.”

Athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees came to these dazzling venues and particularly the athletes from Great Britain made great increases in efficiency .

In Wrestling 60 countries took part in the Olympic Summer Games and the 71 medals have been won by 28 countries. The most three successful countries in Wrestling have been in Beijing Russia, Japan and Georgia while Georgia made the biggest leap since Athens.

Again the Russian Freestyle wrestlers were the best in Beijing. They were with almost double of Nation points in front followed by Ukraine and Uzbekistan.

2. Analysis of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games

We have an increase of the points per minute from 0.9 in Sydney to 1.0 in Athens and again from Athens to Beijing after rule changing even the increase is not dramatically.

World top performance 1976 - 2008

Winner in Freestyle

OG 76 OG 80 OG 84 OG 88 OG 92 OG 96 OG 00 OG 04 OG 08

0

0,5

1

1,5

2WQ (Pts./min)

FSFS 1,3 1,2 1,7 1,3 1,2 0,9 0,9 1 1,1

change rules change rules

FILA Competence Centre

The tendency of increase of the Freestyle wrestling discipline becomes also clear if we have a look at the quality of points of all participants (fig 2).

Quality of Points

Olympic Games 1992 - 2008 FS

915 1095763

722 609

12001222 552

267 174

342 279 19857 64

20 5 5 2 0

Barcelona 1992 Atlanta 1996 Sydney 2000 Athens 2004 Beijing 20080%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%Pts.

1 Pt.

2 Pts.

3 Pts.

5 Pts.

bt.: 344 Pts.:2477 bt.: 379 Pts.:2601 bt.: 233 Pts.:1518 bt.:220 Pts.:1437 bt.:165 Pts..1149

Pts./bt.: 7,2 Pts./bt.: 5,3 Pts./bt.: 6,5 Pts./bt.: 6,5 Pts./bt.: 7,0

2.1 State of performance and development of freestyle wrestling

We welcome Bouvaissa Saitiev in the Club of three time Olympic champions in wrestling. After winning the first Olympic Gold medal in Atlanta 1996 and a “creative” break in Sydney he has demonstrated his excellent technico-tactical performance in Athens and in Beijing winning again the gold medal.

74 kg CUB - RUS

However, the excellent performances of other Olympic champions and medal winner like Taimazov (Uzbekistan), Mindorashwili (Georgia) or Shahin (Turkey) gave the spectators in Beijing pleasure.

66 kg TUR - CUB

74 kg CUB - BUL

2.1.1 Country-specific aspects

We mentioned already the outstanding results of the Russian Freestyle wrestlers. Congratulation to the athletes, coaches and the Olympic Centre in Machatschkala with its leader, Juri Shakmouradov, were the most of the Olympic medal winner had been prepared.

The best 10 Nations FS

OG 2008

Nat.Pts sorted by FILA ranking (place 1-10 Pts.;place 10-1 Pt)

RUS UKR UZB GEO CUB AZE KAZ TUR USA JPN0

10

20

30

40

50

60

OG 2008 59 32 31 29 28 24 23 21 18 17

This leads us to a comparison of the nations’ performance from Athens and Beijing.

The best 10 Nations FS

Comparison OG 2008 and OG 2004

Nat.Pts sorted by FILA ranking (place 1-10 Pts.;place 10-1 Pt)

RUS UKR UZB GEO CUB AZE KAZ TUR USA JPN0

10

20

30

40

50

60

OG 2008 59 32 31 29 28 24 23 21 18 17

OG 2004 52 25 22 9 32 6 24 14 44 22

Almost all the teams placed 10 to 20 could improve their results with only one exception, Iran. They also had to suffer big losses.

The best Nations (places 10 to 20) FS

Comparison OG 2004 and OG 2008

IRI BUL BLR IND TJK KGZ SVK GER ROU HUN0

10

20

30

40

50

60

OG 2008 17 16 14 10 9 9 8 6 6 6

OG 2004 32 8 4 5

Nat.Pts sorted by FILA ranking (place 1-10 Pts.;place 10-1 Pt)

2.1.2 Qualitative analysis of combat behaviour

2.1.2.1 Combat behaviour of the nations

With the Performance index you can very good describe the technical-tactical abilities of a given nation or athlete. In this case the realized points will be set into relation to the points given away to the opponent.

RUS UKR GEO AZE UZB IRI KAZ TUR CUB USA JPN

0

0,2

0,4

0,6

0,8

-0,2

-0,4

[WQ] - [neg. WQ]

ind. 08 0,54 0,49 0,45 0,34 0,22 0,1 0,09 -0,15 -0,2 -0,28 0,56

The best Nations FS

performance index OG 2008

FILA-Competence Centre only 10 bt.

The next figure shows the way to improve their wrestling efficacy of the USA, Cuba and Turkey. These countries gave more points away to their opponents as they made by themselves.

RUS UKR GEO AZE UZB IRI KAZ TUR CUB USA JPN

0

0,2

0,4

0,6

0,8

-0,2

-0,4

[WQ] - [neg. WQ]

ind. 08 0,54 0,49 0,45 0,34 0,22 0,1 0,09 -0,15 -0,2 -0,28 0,56

ind. 04 0,69 0,15 -0,17 0,1 0,35 0,26 0,06 -0,06 0,54 0,28 0,38

The best Nations FS

comparison performance index OG 2008 to OG 2004

FILA-Competence Centre only 10 bt.

The increase and decrease of the Wrestling efficacy since 2004 can be a hint to the quality of the national training concepts.

UKR GEO RUS AZE IRI CUB UZB USA KAZ TUR JPN0

0,2

0,4

0,6

0,8

1

1,2[WQ]

WQ 08 1,03 0,94 0,93 0,92 0,9 0,89 0,79 0,77 0,68 0,53 1,08

Attack efficacy of the best nations FS

OG 2008

Nat.Pts. 08 32 29 59 24 17 28 31 18 23 21 17

only 10 bt.

If we take a deeper look into the quality we can see right now the reasons for the technical-tactical advantages and disadvantages of the various nations.

The comparison of the attacking efficacy between 2004 and 2008 underlines this position.

UKR GEO RUS AZE IRI CUB UZB USA KAZ TUR JPN0

0,2

0,4

0,6

0,8

1

1,2[WQ]

WQ 08 1,03 0,94 0,93 0,92 0,9 0,89 0,79 0,77 0,68 0,53 1,08

WQ 04 0,53 0,42 0,95 0,83 0,67 0,79 0,92 0,62 0,54 0,5 0,92

Attack efficacy of the best nations FS

comparison OG 2008 and OG 2004

only 10 bt.

66 kg UKR - USA

66 kg CUB - IRI

On the other hand there must be another winning factor if the Russian wrestlers could have such a great success. And this becomes clear if we are looking at the defence abilities.

RUS GEO UKR UZB AZE KAZ TUR IRI USA CUB JPN

0

-0,2

-0,4

-0,6

-0,8

-1

-1,2

[-WQ]

neg. WQ 08 -0,38 -0,49 -0,54 -0,56 -0,58 -0,58 -0,68 -0,8 -1,05 -1,1 -0,52

OG 2008

Defence efficacy best nations FS

FILA-Competence Centre

only 10 bt.

Very interesting is the comparison of the defence abilities of the Olympic Games 2004 and 2008.

RUS GEO UKR UZB AZE KAZ TUR IRI USA CUB JPN

0

-0,2

-0,4

-0,6

-0,8

-1

-1,2

[-WQ]

neg. WQ 08 -0,38 -0,49 -0,54 -0,56 -0,58 -0,58 -0,68 -0,8 -1,05 -1,1 -0,52

neg. WQ 04 -0,26 -0,59 -0,38 -0,57 -0,73 -0,48 -0,56 -0,41 -0,34 -0,25 -0,55

comparison OG 2008 to OG 2004

Defence efficacy best nations FS

FILA-Competence Centre

only 10 bt.

On the other hand this is a good sign for the increase of the attractiveness of the Olympic Freestyle tournament 2008 in connection with the increase of the attack efficacy. This tendency can be confirmed with the summarizing of the Wrestling efficacy 2008 in Beijing.

RUS UKR UZB GEO CUB AZE KAZ TUR USA JPN0

0,2

0,4

0,6

0,8

1

1,2[WQ] a. [-WQ]

WQ 08 0,93 1,03 0,79 0,94 0,89 0,92 0,68 0,53 0,77 1,08

- WQ 08 0,38 0,54 0,56 0,49 1,1 0,58 0,58 0,68 1,05 0,52

OG 2008 FR

Fighting efficacy certain nations

p.index. 0,54 0,49 0,22 0,45 - 0,20 0,34 0,09 - 0,15 - 0,28 0,56

only 10 bt.

2.1.2.2 Combat behaviour of the winner

We consider a different picture concerning the performance index, which describes the technical-tactical abilities of the winner.

55 kg 60 kg 66 kg 74 kg 84 kg 96 kg 120 kg0

0,5

1

1,5

[WQ] -[neg.WQ]

index 0,27 0,63 0,66 1,21 0,86 0,39 0,94

OG 2008 FS

Performance index winner

FILA-Competence Centre

66 kg TUR - GEO

If we compare the technical-tactical performance of the Olympic Champions 2004 and 2008 we can consider that the Olympic Champions in the 74kg (Saitiev) and in the 84kg ( Mindorashwili) showed a much better performance as the Champions 2004.

55 kg 60 kg 66 kg 74 kg 84 kg 96 kg 120 kg0

0,2

0,4

0,6

0,8

1

1,2

1,4

1,6[WQ] -[neg.WQ]

ind. 08 0,27 0,63 0,66 1,21 0,86 0,39 0,94

ind. 04 1,24 0,57 0,67 0,9 0,46 0,53 1,41

comparison OG 2008 to OG 2004 FS

Performance index winner

FILA-Competence Centre

If we have a look at the attack efficacy the dominating role of the Olympic Champions becomes evident with the exception of the 96 and 60kg Champion.

55 kg 60 kg 66 kg 74 kg 84 kg 96 kg 120 kg0

0,2

0,4

0,6

0,8

1

1,2

1,4

1,6[WQ]

WQ 1,31 0,72 1,21 1,46 1,51 0,48 1,19

OG 2008 FS

Attack efficacy winner

p.index. 0,27 0,63 0,66 1,21 0,86 0,39 0,94

The dominating offensive strategies of the Olympic Champions 2008 and the increase of the attractive Freestyle Wrestling versus 2004 becomes clear if we have look at the Attack efficacy 2008 and 2004.

55 kg 60 kg 66 kg 74 kg 84 kg 96 kg 120 kg0

0,2

0,4

0,6

0,8

1

1,2

1,4

1,6[WQ]

WQ 08 1,31 0,72 1,21 1,46 1,51 0,48 1,19

WQ 04 1,34 0,6 0,96 1,06 0,83 0,6 1,55

OG 2008 FS

Attack efficacy winner

55 kg USA - JPN

In contrast to the excellent attack efficacy of Cejudo (USA) are his weak defence abilities. In general the Olympic Champions of 2008 are very stable against the attacks of their opponents. This is the case especially for Batirov, Saitiev, Muradov and Taimazov.

55 kg 60 kg 66 kg 74 kg 84 kg 96 kg 120 kg

0

-0,2

-0,4

-0,6

-0,8

-1

-1,2

[neg.WQ]

- WQ -1,04 -0,09 -0,55 -0,25 -0,65 -0,1 -0,25

OG 2008 FS

Defence efficacy winner

p.index. 0,27 0,63 0,66 1,21 0,86 0,39 0,94

All Olympic Champions of Athens have had better defence qualities than the Olympic Champions of 2008. This confirms on the other hand our observation of the increasing of the spectacular offensive strategies during the Olympic Games 2008 in Beijing.

55 kg 60 kg 66 kg 74 kg 84 kg 96 kg 120 kg

0

-0,2

-0,4

-0,6

-0,8

-1

-1,2

[neg.WQ]

- WQ 08 -1,04 -0,09 -0,55 -0,25 -0,65 -0,1 -0,25

- WQ 04 -0,09 -0,03 -0,29 -0,17 -0,36 -0,07 -0,14

comparison OG 2008 to OG 2004 FS

Defence efficacy winner

Summarizing the wrestling efficacy, all Freestyle Olympic champions have realized excellent performances with Bouvaissa Saitiev (RUS), Arthur Taimazov (UZB) and Revaz Mindorashwili (GEO) being clearly ahead.

55 kg 60 kg 66 kg 74 kg 84 kg 96 kg 120 kg0

0,2

0,4

0,6

0,8

1

1,2

1,4

1,6[WQ] a. [-WQ]

WQ 1,31 0,72 1,21 1,46 1,51 0,48 1,19

- WQ 1,04 0,09 0,55 0,25 0,65 0,1 0,25

OG 2008 FS

Fighting efficacy winner

p.index. 0,27 0,63 0,66 1,21 0,86 0,39 0,94

3. Technical-tactical Highlights on a basis of video clips

We have analyzed all individual Olympic bouts and we have found out many attractive technical-tactical actions, which have been compiled in the Highlights on video and DVD. In the following we will show some selected examples (video sequences freestyle).

66 kg TUR - IRI

74 kg UKR - KGZ

74 kg ROM - GRE

55 kg CUB - BLR

60 kg AZE - MKD

60 kg USA - KGZ

74 kg CHN - CUB

66 kg JPN - GEO

74 kg BUL - KGZ

96 kg CUB - GEO

120 kg IRI - KAZ

60 kg MKD - TUR

84 kg IRI - AZE

84 kg UKR - TJK