SWEDISH WRESTLER ARA ABRAHAMIAN
A Swedish wrestler, angered about a scoring decision by Olympic judges, stormed off the medal podium in Beijing today flinging his bronze medal to the ground.
Ara Abrahamian lost a controversial decision to an Italian in the 84 kg greco-roman wrestling competition. Following the decision, Abrahamian stormed the judges table and had to be restrained by teammates. Abrahamian ended up winning a bronze medal. After the competition, the Swedish wrestler actually took the medal off his neck and threw it to the mat before exiting the stadium in disgust.
Sweden’s coach called the decision to award Abrahamian’s opponent the match “politics.” Swedish fans actually booed the judges as they left the arena.
Interviewed later in the day, Abrahamian said he would quit the sport following the incident.
ARA ABRAHAMIAN’S ABANDONED BRONZE MEDAL
Tags: Ara Abrahamian, Olympics, Sweden
August 14, 2008 at 11:09 pm |
First of all, it looked to me like Abrahamian merely laid down the medal on the mat, not threw it down like the media have claimed.
That said, I still think the ‘72 U.S. men’s basketball team had exactly the right idea in this scenario: simply blow off the medal ceremony altogether. That got their protest across in no uncertain terms without making them look like jerks or spoiling the ceremony for the other medalists. If Abrahamian had done this, he’d be commanding a lot more respect than he does now.
Anyway, it’s my understanding that the orphaned medal has been returned to FILA (wrestling’s int’l governing body), no doubt to end up as some middling desk jockey’s paperweight.
August 15, 2008 at 8:42 am |
I’m not sure why Abrahamian didn’t receive a harsher punishment. After all, this IS the Olympics competition. His behavior is unacceptable, even if his performance should’ve received gold. There’s more to sportsmanship than just “sports”.
August 15, 2008 at 11:08 am |
First of all he hasnt been punished, he was robbed. After all, this IS the olympics competition, the referees behaviour is unacceptable. There’s more to sportsmanship than being a fair athlete. What do you do when you’re not given a fair chance?
Abrahamian stands up for himself, and i applaud his actions.